Endurance

There are times in life when we simply must endure. Every experience, no matter the size, is an opportunity for growth but at times the meaning escapes us. Endurance sponsors courage, patience, persistence, faith, and selflessness in a way that little else can. When we witness endurance as a form of human behavior we often admire the character of the person persevering. The first thing we notice is the level of courage that rises like a cream to the top. The other qualities are gentler; they are quieter and take more time to recognize.

Suffering exists all around us as we try to understand the benefits it brings. It helps to understand that if any experience was void of benefit our infinitely merciful Lord would withhold it from us. Also, that our precious God has promised we would never be subject to more than we could endure at any single time. So endurance becomes the key that unlocks the door to liberation. Liberation from what; liberation from fear and all that it gives rise to. In the absence of fear, with the courage to persist, the faith to see beyond the suffering, and the selflessness to move our focus from ourselves, we can grow immeasurably.

Suffering in the absence of courage, patience, persistence, faith, and selflessness is simply self-imposed brutality. It will heighten fear and harden the heart. We may find we have little apparent choice in whether we suffer or not, but how we meet these conditions is entirely up to each of us. Pain and disappointment will at times surly visit us. In our anguish, physical and mental, let us resolve to move from suffering to enduring, from fear to faith. Then let us in gratitude thank that Infinite Loving Kindness we call God for His unspeakable mercy.  

2 Responses to “Endurance”

1. Elaine Singer says:

   November 27, 2011 at 5:49 am

   Dear friend,

   I look at this as practicing patience, the active patience about which Mr. Cayce spoke. Prayer, working with meditation and prayer, as part of the Glad Helpers is an expansion of conscious growth in practicing patience. I find prayer is an experience of active patience which lifts endurance to another level of interaction with our spirit, with our God.
2. Harvey Green says:

   November 27, 2011 at 4:47 pm

   Excellent perspective, thank you for sharing it.