noun
1: the ability to withstand hardship or adversity especially : the ability to sustain a prolonged stressful effort or activity a marathon runner's endurance
2: the act or an instance of enduring or suffering endurance of many hardships
Life Questions
When you think about endurance, what/who comes to mind?
How is your capacity to endure?
Is endurance a gift or something you learn and grow in?
What/who motivates you to keep going and not give up?
Endurance is an important theme in scripture. Here are some encouraging key verses from God's word.
1 Chronicles 16:34 Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures for ever.
Psalm 37:18 The blameless spend their days under the Lord’s care, and their inheritance will endure for ever.
Psalm 49:12 People, despite their wealth, do not endure; they are like the beasts that perish.
Psalm 104:31 May the glory of the Lord endure for ever; may the Lord rejoice in his works –
Psalm 117:2 For great is his love towards us, and the faithfulness of the Lord endures for ever. Praise the Lord.
Psalm 119:90 Your faithfulness continues through all generations; you established the earth, and it endures.
Psalm 136:12 with a mighty hand and outstretched arm; His love endures forever.
Proverbs 12:19 Truthful lips endure for ever, but a lying tongue lasts only a moment.
Ecclesiastes 3:14 I know that everything God does will endure for ever; nothing can be added to it and nothing taken from it. God does it so that people will fear him.
Isaiah 40:8 The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God endures for ever.’
Jeremiah 10:10 But the Lord is the true God; he is the living God, the eternal King. When he is angry, the earth trembles; the nations cannot endure his wrath.
Daniel 4:3 How great are his signs, how mighty his wonders! His kingdom is an eternal kingdom; his dominion endures from generation to generation.
Malachi 3:2 But who can endure the day of his coming? Who can stand when he appears? For he will be like a refiner’s fire or a launderer’s soap.
John 6:27 Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For on him God the Father has placed his seal of approval.’
Romans 15:4 For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope.
Romans 15:5,6 May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had, so that with one mind and one voice you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
1 Corinthians 4:12 We work hard with our own hands. When we are cursed, we bless; when we are persecuted, we endure it;
1 Corinthians 10:13 No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.
1 Thessalonians 1:3 We remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labour prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.
2 Timothy 2:12 If we died with him, we will also live with him; if we endure, we will also reign with him.
Hebrews 12:2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy that was set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Hebrews 12:3 Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.
Hebrews 12:7 Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as his children. For what children are not disciplined by their father?
Revelation 3:10 Since you have kept my command to endure patiently, I will also keep you from the hour of trial that is going to come on the whole world to test the inhabitants of the earth.
Faith Questions What does scripture prompt and remind you of when it comes to endurance?
In refection, consider what God has endured on your behalf. What He endures each day as you live.
Is endurance something you must battle within yourself? Share with others? Call upon God for?
Challenge
Take some time to soak in God's word. Reflect upon the truth and importance of some of these key verses above that impact you. Commit to memory or dig a little into the context of the verse in scripture. See how it impacts your capacity and resolve to endure.