Jesus Will Give You Endurance

The headline reads: Iowa State University Senior Graduates After 19 Years! “Kathy Vitzthum has taken about one class each and every semester since 1992, while juggling family and career. About half way through the 40 semesters, she promised her terminally ill father that she would continue until she graduated. On May 7th, the 48-year-old Vitzthum graduated summa cum laude from Iowa State with a bachelor's degree in accounting."

Have you ever caught yourself doing something halfway, not much commitment, not because you enjoy it, but “just because”? Kathy wouldn’t understand you. Doing things halfway isn’t what God calls you to either.

How happy we are when something is all done--the trial is all finished, the work is all completed, sundown has come. We love it when the work is done, when the trial is over. We like to be happy. We like the feeling when we have made it through a tough situation, that it is past and over! There is a sense of joy and of well-being once again.

But, often here on this earth, the trial is not over. We are not finished--we are just starting. We often wish we were at the end when we have only begun. There was a time when the Israelites were in the wilderness. It was years before they would be in Canaan. They had to go through the middle of the wilderness. Sometimes you may feel like you are in a hot, dry wilderness, or in an ocean of difficulties.

Jesus has promised, "When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee." Isaiah 43:2. Jesus will always be with you--how we need that today. We need His presence to be with us, because we are not there yet. We still have many mountains to climb.

In the midst of trials we have moments of peace, moments when we feel that for now everything is okay. But trials on this earth come again. We find ourselves in the furnace again and again. We need endurance. Look to Jesus. He can give you hope. If you look to Jesus, He will give you comfort. He will give you endurance. He will give you joy. You will have peace in the middle of the trial, because He is sufficient to take you through.

Scripture reading: 2 Timothy 2:10; Hebrews 12:7; Psalm 104:31; 2 Timothy 2:12; Ezekiel 22:14; Proverbs 27:24; 2 Timothy 4:5; 1 Corinthians 4:12.

Prayer:

Most Precious Lord Jesus, Gentle and Wonderful God, Truly Awesome and Ever-present Holy Spirit, Precious Lord Jesus, I love you.
Precious Lord Jesus, I commit my life to you even in the pain and suffering of this world. I know you call me every second of my life.
May every hardship I must endure be lived out for your glory.
All these things I humbly pray in the name of my most Blessed Lord Jesus Christ, my Mighty God, and my Ever-present Holy Spirit upon whom I can rely. Amen

Have a blessed day,

Dallas