Have you ever been faced with a time in life where everything seems to be going in the wrong direction? When everyone who speaks to you rather seems to get on your nerves rather than encouraging you? Due to all these, you easily loss your temper, find yourself scolding everyone who comes your way or not wanting to be around anybody at all. Today, I will like us to talk about Faith and Endurance.
Faith: Faith shows the reality of what we hope for; it is the evidence of things we cannot see. Through faith, the people in the days of old earned a good reputation. (Hebrews 11:1-2 NLT).
Endurance: This can simply be defined as continuing Christian commitment in the face of difficulty. A good summary of this definition is found in Romans 12:11-12. “Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.”
Despite the different definitions, these 2 virtues work hand in glove and are very essential for our Christian walk. Especially as women, we have those moments in life when we get angry easily, or are hasty to draw conclusions about many things. This is sometimes caused by hormonal imbalance during menstruation which leads to mood swings. In the first stages of menstruation a woman’s body increases the amount of estrogen that is produced by a dramatic rate. Hence a woman can go from feeling very good to feeling very bad in such a short time. However, even with the biological explanation, we still need the ability to endure in such circumstances so that we don’t do or say what we will regret when the bad mood swings to a good mood. We may have heard so many teachings on faith and how to activate/reactivate your faith. But I will like to focus on the intersection of Faith and Endurance and its benefits.
Benefits of Faith and Endurance
- Maturity and wisdom: A faith filled person stays calm in all raging storms, because he sees the end and he knows it will workout for good. So he/she is encouraged to put in more effort to reach that glorious end. Thus they persevere in the storm and are able to take make wise decisions.
“Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep his promise.” Hebrews 10:23
“…When troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.” James 1:2-4.
- Attitude: Faith and Endurance breeds a good attitude/character. Any person who understands these 2 virtues sees the good in everyone. Even when a person goes completely astray or gets on your last nerve, you do not think bad about that person or situation.
“A servant of the Lord must not quarrel but must be kind to everyone, be able to teach, and be patient with difficult people. Gently instruct those who oppose the truth. Perhaps God will change those people’s hearts, and they will learn the truth. Then they will come to their senses and escape from the devil’s trap. For they have been held captive by him to do whatever he wants.” 2 Timothy 2:24-26
- Self Discipline: Flowing from the previous point, Faith and Endurance produces self discipline. When you are patient and tolerant with a person, you are able to watch the words you use, devote yourself to faithfulness and commitment to the lord because you trust him to supply your needs and you do not blame God for your problems but learn from them.
“My child, don’t make light the Lord’s discipline and don’t give up when He corrects you. For the lord disciplines those he loves, and he punishes those he accepts as his children.” Hebrews 12:5-6.
“…You must be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to get angry. Human anger does not produce the righteousness God desires…If you claim to be religious but don’t control your tongue, you are fooling yourself, and your religion is worthless.” James 1:19-20,26.
“And remember, when you are being tempted, do not say God is tempting me. God is never tempted to do wrong and he never tempts anyone, temptations come from our own desires which entice us and drag us away.” James 1:13-14
Therefore, no matter what happens, let Faith and Endurance produce its good work in you.
Gwen