Endurance

James 1:2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. 4 Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. 

Per·se·ver·ance: steadfastness in doing something despite difficulty or delay in achieving success.

The issue isn’t whether we’ll have trials.  They come in all sizes and shapes, and to everyone.  One thing all trials have in common, large or small, is they focus our attention on a specific situation.  Perseverance becomes a spiritual exercise for us without a known end date or predictable outcome.  Perseverance in the midst of the trial is where our faith and expectations begin to rely on the value of just getting through this one day.  All we have is the hope we can endure.  

Endurance is the  byproduct of the spiritual exercise of perseverance.  It’s a result of doggedly putting one foot in front of the other every day during the trial and letting “perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”  Perseverance is the muscle-building exercise of faith that results in endurance.  

“Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters”…not for the pain, fears. tears, stress and struggle of the trial but that it reminds you every day of your need to depend on Jesus to get you through.  God is building your endurance and insuring your survival on that one fact alone.  You just need to show up every day.