And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
If a friend signed you up for a marathon that was starting in just a couple of hours, how would you do? For some who run long distance regularly, it may be challenging but manageable but for those who do not run routinely, the task would be impossible. A few hours is far too short a time to prep for such a large task requiring so much endurance and training.
The process of endurance is not easy; it requires us to push our bodies out of the ease of our routine to be uncomfortable, sore, and challenged. Whether it is a physical marathon we are preparing for or endurance we are building through trials, we are pushed out of our comfort zone to build up muscles that don’t come naturally to us. Just as our bodies don’t naturally gain muscle apart from physical activity, our faith will stay shallow when we have not pressed into God in the challenges of life. Jesus has done more than save us for a one-time occasion that will give us life with Him in heaven—He has given us an example of enduring trials and equipped us with the Holy Spirit who is with us through the trials and challenges of life. God has given you all you need in Him to walk through the challenges of life and grow through them. Like preparing for a marathon, it will be a process, and will have its challenges, but through God’s presence and equipping, you will be complete in Him, lacking nothing.
- When have you felt most challenged through a difficult time? What was hard about that? How did you get through it?
- How has your faith been impacted by the challenges you have faced in life? Has it helped or hurt your faith? Why?
