Enduring

For the past seven weeks, we have had the joy of hearing from various members of the Riverwood family about an attribute of Jesus they appreciate. To wrap things up, Pastor Erin shares about an attribute of Christ he appreciates and which inspires him in life and ministry: endurance.

This summer, I've had the joy of meeting weekly with a brand new believer in Jesus to work through Riverwood's New Believer Discipleship Course. A couple of weeks ago, he was sharing about some of what he was learning from Scripture, part of which included Romans 5:3-4, which says...

"[We] rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope." (Romans 5:3-4, ESV)

This new Jesus-follower had been going through something hard that week, so this verse about enduring through suffering was exactly what he needed to hear. But if I'm honest, even though I have been following Jesus for a lot longer than my new friend, I also need to be reminded of this encouragement to endure through whatever God allows to come my way.

For whatever reason, God has chosen to make perseverance a theme in my life. Perhaps it is just stubbornness or the fear of looking wimpy, but I have had to persevere through the sport of wrestling, a grueling piano education in college, poverty, being an overseas missionary, and (probably most vividly) church planting.

I realize (as I look at that list) my life, compared to many, has been very easy. I have not had to persevere through cancer, losing a parent early in life, or being abandoned by a spouse. And yet, as I found myself in the midst of my suffering, whether trying to survive a wrestling practice or wondering if Riverwood was going to survive, it felt in that moment like the hardest thing I had ever faced.

Thankfully, to help me on my journey through each season, I have needed to look no further than Jesus to learn how to endure through all life has thrown my way.

The Prince of Perseverance

When I think of the word endurance, my first thought is often of sporting events like running a marathon, biking the Tour de France, or participating in an Ironman Triathlon. But those difficult achievements pale in comparison to what Jesus endured on Good Friday.

When you study the events surrounding the crucifixion of Christ, you begin to see endurance in a whole new light. Jesus faced unimaginable suffering—emotionally, spiritually, mentally, and physically. And yet, "for the joy that was set before Him [He] endured the cross, despising the shame" (Hebrews 12:2). It was because of His love for us that the Prince of Peace also became the Prince of Perseverance. He suffered to give us life. And so out of my love for Him, I want to endure in my faith, no matter how hard life gets.

So no matter what you are going through, I encourage you to look to Jesus, the one who endured the whip, the nails, the mocking, and so much more so that He could make you His own.