Patient Endurance
Our enemy, Satan, recognizes our strengths and weaknesses and knows how to push us to our limits. But when we keep standing, keep believing, and keep fighting, the Bible says, “Blessed is the man who endures…when he has been approved, he will receive the crown” (Jas 1:12 NKJV). The word “approved” means victory that qualifies you for greater things. You say, “How long will this trial last?” Only God knows. Goliath defied the armies of Israel for forty days (See 1Sam.17:16). Satan hindered Daniel’s prayers for twenty-one days (See Dan. 10:13). Satan is relentless, so we must be too. When it comes to prayer, your persistence overcomes his (the enemy’s) resistance.
“Do not throw away this confident trust in the Lord…Patient endurance is what you need now…Then you will receive all that he has promised” (Heb. 10:35-36). As for me, in slow seasons I find I am the most vulnerable. I just don’t seem to have learned how to navigate the slow seasons well. Then again, David didn’t get into trouble with Bathsheba until he left the battlefield (See 2Sa 11:1). However, our enemy never steps away, therefore, we must keep fighting. Some of you have been fighting long and hard and in agony for friends and loved ones. Yet God is with you, strengthening you for the fight as only He can do. When we go through difficult seasons we may be calling out, “When will this be over, how long Lord, what will happen?” But faith doesn’t demand details and explanations; it just keeps moving forward, believing God for the right result, because He LOVES us and PROMISES He will never leave us. My friends, we must not flee the battlefield. Rise up!
“Patient endurance is what you need now.” Heb 10:36 NLT
Keep standing, keep believing, keep fighting. Endurance is what we need now!