This neck brace is becoming more difficult each day. Even though I am getting closer to my post-op appointment (and the hope that I will be released from wearing it), I find it is taking more endurance to get through each day and night. I thought it would get easier after a couple weeks. I was wrong. I keep tell myself that “this too shall pass.” It’s just not passing fast enough!
Endurance is needed for more than just neck braces. It is needed for life – especially for the Christian life. The world is relentless in its efforts to conform us to its thinking. The enemy is relentless in his attempts to discourage us by turning our attention away from our LORD and Savior.
We need to remember, however, that as relentless as the world and the devil are to draw us AWAY FROM God, even more relentless is the Holy Spirit in us to draw us CLOSER TO the Lord God Almighty.
The Scriptures repeatedly tell us that while this life is full of hardships, our God is able to keep us, to sustain us, and to bring us home to Him.
Hebrews 12:1 reminds us we have a great “cloud of witnesses surrounding us,” urging us to run this race with endurance. “Therefore, since we also have such a large cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us lay aside every weight and the sin that so easily ensnares us. Let us run with endurance the race that lies before us…” [HCSB]
And Hebrews 12:2 tell us exactly how to run … by “…keeping our eyes on Jesus, the source and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that lay before Him endured a cross and despised the shame and has sat down at the right hand of God’s throne.” [HCBS]
Jesus endured the cross … and because of His victory, we now have a source of endurance to draw upon as we run the race God set before us.
