Enduring Hardships
Do you know people who seem to never have a problem? They have plenty of money, are never sick and everything goes right for them (including all of their personal relationships — whether with significant others or friends).
However, they would not know God if they met Him coming down the sidewalk. Yet, you are struggling.
We all know individuals like this, and it does not take long to start making comparisons. Their situation is on the “green grass” side of the fence and looking good.
Whereas, our situation is on the other side, battling and fighting everything satan is throwing at us. Fact is, we may be at the point of saying, “I don’t want to fight anymore. I’m just going to give up.”
Do not give up! The fight is worth it!
Look at what the apostle Paul wrote to Timothy regarding this very issue.
8Do not blush or be ashamed then, to testify to and for our Lord, nor of me, a prisoner for His sake, but [with me] take your share of the suffering [to which the preaching] of the Gospel [may expose you, and do it] in the power of God.
Moreover, in another passage Paul told Timothy the following.
3Take [with me] your share of the hardships and suffering [which you are called to endure] as a good (first-class) soldier of Christ Jesus.
In other words, we must accept the fact that when we serve the Lord, we are going to face some problems and difficulties. As Christians, we can expect satan to attack us with everything he has because we are his only worldly threat.
However, the Bible says the following concerning the attacks we are confronted with.
2Consider it wholly joyful, my brethren, whenever you are enveloped in or encounter trials of any sort or fall into various temptations.
3Be assured and understand that the trial and proving of your faith bring out endurance and steadfastness and patience.
Meaning, when all kinds of trials and temptations crowd into our lives — we should not resent them as intruders, but welcome them as friends.
You are probably thinking or saying to yourself, “Give me a break! How can I welcome my trials as friends?”
James gives us the answer to that in verse 4.
4But let endurance and steadfastness and patience have full play and do a thorough work, so that you may be [people] perfectly and fully developed [with no defects], lacking in nothing.
Simply stated, although trials come to test our faith, they produce endurance so that we can stand firm and say, “No matter what, I am going to overcome!”
To sum things up, trials and tribulations will come to try and/or prove our faith, but they will produce in us the quality to endure as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.
God Bless!
“Scripture quotations taken from the Amplified Bible”
Print This Post (Printer-Friendly Version Opens in New Window/Tab)
Welcome back my friend! We hope and pray you continue to enjoy and learn from our website. God bless!
Comment by Tumelo on May 17th, 2009:
Life is what happens to us while we are making other plans. So to endure hardships is similar to what we come across in relation to bad people who try to bring us down. I have endured a lot with God on my site and I have proven that no man can do anything to me as I have someone who is watching me all the times. I am covered with all that I need in life to walk the walk and talk the talk.