This week we’re going talk about endurance. By now some of you are struggling with sticking with your New Year’s resolutions. Are you still on track? We’re 15 days in now. It’s starting to get harder. Some people have already given up. Many more will give up by the end of the month. Remember when I said 21 days to create a new habit. Well you’re almost there.
Endurance is part of the word endure. To endure something sounds like you’re just putting up with it, like it’s uncomfortable or even painful. It’s a hardship. It’s not easy to do. I think it’s all in your perspective and whether or not you’re really committed to achieving the goal that you want. It’s all how you look at it.
Endurance is about stamina. Are you training for it? You’ve set goals and now you’re holding on until they are accomplished.
The Bible tells us there are things we are going to have to endure: afflictions, persecutions, tribulations, grief, chastising, temptations, all things. All these things we experience help us to grow in character and virtue and most importantly, love. They help us to become better human beings. They help us to become holy. Now some of you may be smirking or rolling your eyes about being holy, but I believe that is our purpose here on this earth. God is holy and being sons and daughters of Him, we are called to grow in holiness. That could be why some people are so unhappy—they’ve stopped growing in holiness. (These are just my opinions.)
So many people have already given up on their resolutions. They stopped trying. I’m here to encourage you. Don’t stop trying. Don’t give up. Keep going. Get back to your resolutions and goals. Finish strong. Find someone to help keep you accountable.
Endurance is about taking it one step at a time. With each step forward, bit by bit, little by little, you will find yourself closer each day to your goal.
So what are you enduring? How can you finish strong? Here’s the endurance worksheet to help you. Keep going. Don’t give up.
I have the blessing of being married for 36 years this July. —36 years! Step by step, one day at a time. Never giving up. Committed to making it work for me, my spouse and my kids. There have been trials and grief and temptations-all those things listed above. But we’re still making it work. We are going to finish strong. The joys and peace and love far outweigh all that other stuff and we’re stronger because of it.
Stick with it. God will bless you for it.
