“Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope.” (Romans 5:3-4 ESV)
“For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God, you may receive what is promised.” (Hebrews 10:36 ESV)
I learned yesterday that I am old. It’s been a few years since I have babysat. I kept 2 of my great grandkids for a few hours yesterday. It was a long few hours. I discovered I am not as young as I used to be, but my patience never wavered. I had a ball with those 2. I loved every minute and all 40,000 questions. I survived. God gave me the strength to almost keep up with them. They are a handful that I would take anytime.
There’s a saying “endurance to run the race.” I don’t know the whole thing, but you get the point. As I was looking for the quote, I found this one. “Run when you can, walk if you have to, crawl if you must; just never give up.” Good words. Words to live by. Very good words when running this race called life.
God showed me this about the quote. I run when I am strong. But if my faith starts to slip, I walk. Then, if my faith fades, I crawl. But even if life gets us down and we are crawling, never give up. Keep going and building your faith.
God doesn’t want us to quit. Think of the poem Footprints in The Sand, by Mary Stevenson. The very last part of the poem is this:
“He whispered, ‘My precious child, I love you and will never leave you
Never, ever, during your trials and testings. When you saw only one set of footprints, It was then that I carried you.’”
Is Jesus carrying you today? Has life totally drug you down? If so, don’t give up. Keep going and rest in the arms of Jesus.
Have a great day, everyone, and remember, Jesus loves you.
Kathy Keller
Writer and Prayer warrior with Answers2PrayerMinistries
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