Endurance: The Perfecting of God’s Strength in Us

27 Jul Endurance: The Perfecting of God’s Strength in Us

July 26, 2026

Endurance: The Perfecting of God’s Strength in Us

“God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.” – Psalm 46:1

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.– Hebrews 12:1-2 NIV

A short definition of endurance found online is the ability to endure an unpleasant or difficult process or situation without giving way. The key point is “Without giving way”:  In the Bible, endurance refers to steadfast perseverance and faithfulness through trials, relying on God’s strength to remain faithful despite hardships. Source online as well.

To endure, you must desire and expect the great. Ever wanted something, and you said that’s mine. So, you set out to work towards that goal.  But things got harder; resources started drying up. Once available support systems start to disappear, your closest relations that were on board in the beginning start to drop off.  This can be true for many endeavors.  You got a Word from the Lord, the doctor says this will only take about three to four weeks, this new medicine is designed to help, but you’re still experiencing that pain years later. The check did not come in the mail; the ability to endure an unpleasant or difficult process or situation without giving way: the stock market has shifted; hold on through this downturn. Getting that advanced degree was supposed to be the ticket, but they introduced a new certification requirement that requires even more time and finances.

Or the ministry or business is steady, but the increase seems to be falling off a bit. Hence, you invest in a new social media strategy that should boost membership/attendance/sales, but the results are staggeringly slow. Or personally/ emotionally, when you need a shoulder to lean on in a moment of weakness, it’s not there or taken as you having a breakdown mentally or in your faith, which is quite the contrary. “Look to the Lord and his strength; seek his face always.” – 1 Chronicles 16:11 NIV

Must see the purpose in our pain and challenges!

For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls.  You have not yet resisted to bloodshed, striving against sin.  And you have forgotten the exhortation which speaks to you as to sons:

“My son, do not despise the chastening of the Lord,
Nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by Him;
For whom the Lord loves He chastens,
And scourges every son whom He receives.”  Hebrews 12:3-6

Have you ever been in a season(s) when all you had was the Word of God—when you woke up seeking it for every situation and went to bed with it in your heart each night? Many of you have been there, and so have I. In this particular season, I was told to quit my job, had to leave my current church, and my best friend died suddenly.  What in the world was happening with my life? What do you do? You keep moving in faith. Faith is trusting in the unseen; not the unknown, my Willmington’s Bible Handbook says.   Abraham just obeyed God; he did not know where, how, when, or why. He just obeyed God.   We must do the same.

Stay in Faith

Read Hebrews chapters 11 & 12.  There we can see examples of people of great faith and how they endured, and, for us, how to run the Christian race, looking at Jesus, our greatest example.  We may have to encourage ourselves at times as King David did, but we must stay in faith.  Even your own past victories don’t overlook any of them, as they can help to advance us and steady our course. There are/will be times of refreshing and encouragement; look for them. Sometimes they come from unexpected people and places.  Paul did it for Timothy. Stay true to your mission, plan, and purpose in life. Don’t get distracted. Know what project(s) you should be working on and learn to recognize when you are in a new season in your journey.  

What does the Bible Say?

“But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.” Hebrews 5:14 Spiritual maturity requires discernment and consistent application of God’s Word.

Milk will not work when you need the meat of the Word, just as a baby can’t chew or digest a T-bone steak; neither can the shallow, casual life in the Word of God work.  We have got to get all that’s in that guiding verse(s), the prophetic Word given us.  Or God gives it to us, or illuminates it to us, initially and during the process.    Also, supporting times of meditation, prayer, rest, church attendance, giving, books, events, and quiet time with the Holy Spirit regularly.  Ephesians 4:13-15 says – “Until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God, and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ…” This verse emphasizes that maturity is a journey toward Christlikeness, marked by unity, knowledge, and stability in faith. Also, keep a pure disposition, walk in love, and remember to obey the last instructions as we go.

If you can Manifest His Glory

Lots of things are cumulative; I have purchased books, heard sermons, and been to meetings where the content was filed in my spirit and brought back to my remembrance by the Holy Spirit. For example, during a difficult time for my family, I was met with a lot of disrespect and unanticipated requests and activity. So, I went into prayer and was led to a book I had purchased years ago on boundaries. I read and did the audio version, and by the end of the weekend that situation was in check. Not that they had changed, but I erected the necessary boundaries.  A few days ago, I heard words from a sermon by a prayer instructor whose meetings I would attend, Bobbie Jean Merck. All I heard over the last few days was “If you can manifest His Glory,” which was all I needed to hear; it meant elevate your worship level. See, worship is one of the most powerful and special ways we can bring God’s presence into our midst; it draws us closer and closer… to the Lord. It removes all the dross the natural world around us has dropped on us, knowingly or unknowingly.  When we manifest His Glory, it allows Him to have free rein and permission to move.  When you come out of those places of glory, you can continue to endure as God’s battleaxe, and you won’t be faint-hearted either.  Hebrews 13:15 NIV says, “Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips that openly profess his name.”

A Touch from Heaven

God always has a voice on the earth; just because Elijah left the earth in a whirlwind, God’s ministry carried on through Elisha, who did twice as many miracles as Elijah did, with his own God-given uniqueness, as did the other prophets, apostles, disciples, and we believers do today.  So, embrace the ability to endure hardship as a good soldier.  Write and share these places of victory, encouragement, teaching, and corrections that you have experienced so others can learn from them.  Get ready to say as the Apostle Paul did in 2Timothy 4:7-8:

“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, and I have remained faithful. And now the prize awaits me—the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give me on the day of his return. And the prize is not just for me but for all who eagerly look forward to his appearing.”   Keep the Faith, don’t quit, and endure until the end.

Theresa Woodard