The Power of Endurance

My new coach at the gym - talks to our class about Power, Strength and Endurance. Mostly when we begin a class and she says we are focused on endurance for the day, I cringe. It’s tough. A burst of strength - gotcha covered. A display of quick power - I can do that. But endurance for an hour or at least the 30-minute section on the treadmill? Gulp. 

I find this is the hardest thing to live out- endurance. Life is made up of enduring. Enduring through so many things. Trials like watching a loved one with illness, or enduring our own illness, raising children, marriage, difficult jobs, watching parents age and slip into dementia - the list could go on and on of the things we must endure in life.

Why do we endure? Is it in our own strength or is it through love that strengthens and endures us?

When I think of Easter and Christ’s endurance through his ministry, healing the sick, ministering to those who would listen, temptations in the desert. And finally, suffering beatings and then carrying the cross he would hang on to his death for you and me - this is ultimate endurance. Through God’s love for the world, He gave his only son - Jesus and He endured because of His great love for us and the strength His heavenly Father provided.  This is the story of Easter.

The good news is we can draw on His strength and power every day for the roads we are called to walk in this life. 

Romans 5:3 – We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.

My coach says, “You are stronger than you think!” “Let your mind do the thinking, not the body.” Amen sister! 

We can endure with Jesus, we can do all things! 

Happy Easter!

Stacy