Running with Endurance

I have to confess. I have been really, really tired.

Tired and discouraged and ready to give up.

And true to form, God showed up in an interesting way.

I am subscribed to a newsletter of daily Bible reading and reflection called “Seeing Jesus Together”. I’ve been a big fan of their journals for about 10 years but in this season of transition, I’ve been very thankful for that daily email reminder to pause and check in with God.

Today’s verse is :

[Revelation 14:12] Here is a call for the endurance of the saints, 
those who keep the commandments of God and their faith in Jesus.

Endurance!

Just when I was ready to give up on running my business, God calls me to have endurance.

Just when I’m ready to give up on finding a local community of believers, God calls me to have endurance.

Is there something that God is encouraging you to continue through with endurance?

Have you been tempted to water down your faith and how you talk about Jesus? Have endurance.

Have you been doubting that anything good will come out of your struggle? Have endurance.

But this isn’t “pick yourself up by your bootstraps” endurance. The call is for you to endure through faithfully following Jesus and trusting that God is opening the doors that need to open in your life.

One of my very favorite verses comes from The Message Translation of Matthew 11:28-30

"Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you'll recover your life. I'll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me - watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you'll learn to live freely and lightly."

Doesn’t that sound wonderfully inviting? The unforced rhythms of grace, living freely and lightly. Enduring, not out of brute strength but out of restful abiding in Jesus.

Amen and amen.