by Glenice Mills
At the beginning of the year when seeking the Lord about this coming year, He said it was a year to endure. I didn’t have an understanding of what that would look like and what it would mean until now. Even as the year unfolds I can say I am still learning what it means to endure. Many have spoken about this year being different and for a lot of us it has meant a real pushing into God to just get by. However, the Lord does not want us to just get by. He is doing a foundational work. For many of us who have walked with the Lord for many years this does not make sense. However it is about foundations going in because of the new positioning the Lord is requiring of us. As we go higher and further with the Lord there is a greater requirement and responsibility that comes with this. As with any foundation, it is not seen, but as builders will tell you, it is the most important part of the building. It is time consuming, exacting work. It can be frustrating at times because there is no opportunity for error. It is a time when a builder has the clear vision of the end product but this foundation stage is about enduring the trials, the difficulties, yet still holding onto the vision of the completed building. There are stages in the foundations of a building that can be equated with our lives. Following are some key aspects of laying a good foundation using a building analogy.
1. Setting out where the building is to sit:
Perhaps this could best be described as being positioned exactly where the Lord wants you to be. For many it is a time of fine tuning, like tuning into a radio station. You have to be dead on, if not the sound is distorted and you can’t hear clearly. If a building is not positioned where it should be the consequences are disastrous. It is about precision work. The building plans have to be followed to the tiniest degree for there can be no margin for error.
2. Setting out the string lines:
The string lines place the boundary of the house and exactly where the foundations have to go in. It is crucial these lines are dead straight, particularly the positioning of each corner. This could be equivalent to knowing the boundaries of what we are to endure and not going into areas we are not meant to. Again this is exacting work, and if it is rushed, and any corners cut, the long term affect can be devastating. This can be a time consuming part of the foundation. So often at this time it is easy to rush in, skip the process by cutting corners and moving before we are meant to. If the boundary string lines are inaccurately placed and cross into an area they are not meant to, the long term problem takes a lot of rectifying.
3. Digging of the foundations:
This is when the really hard physical work takes place. You don’t know what you will strike until you start digging. Many a building project has been seriously delayed because of striking hard rock, or a creek bed. This means going over the plans again,
redoing engineer calculations and finding other ways of putting the foundations in.
This usually requires more steel work, deeper holes being dug, and a lot more concrete going in to strengthen the foundation. It can be a messy, often muddy, expensive part of the foundations. It frequently takes longer in time, it incurs greater expense and the inconvenience can be very frustrating. Again it is unseen, but crucial to the end product being held up. It is a stage of true endurance, of pushing through, of learning patience and perseverance. No corner can be cut. It is about the deep work being done central to holding the building up. Like our walk with the Lord, this is our time where the Lord is doing a deep healing work, and a deep character work.
There are many tests at this stage to see if we are strong enough to take the weight of the anointing. In this building process there are many inspections by the building inspector to check everything is being followed according to the plans and engineering requirements. This is like us passing tests the Lord brings along our path to see what we will do in certain circumstances. Again it is not seen but it is critical to the final product being all it is meant to be.
The depth of the foundation of a building often depends on the weight of the structure of the house. Perhaps it could be said the greater the call of God on a person’s life the deeper the foundations must go. This means the work will be thorough with no margin for error. Interestingly foundations are always bigger on a building than what’s needed, so the weight can be spread.
4. Steel work and concrete go into the foundations:
The steel is what gives strength and holds everything together. The concrete protects the steel from rusting but together they make the foundation strong. The grade of concrete provides the right strength in the footings. The concrete takes time to dry and cannot take the weight straight away. As concrete dries it strengthens. The steel and the concrete work together as the steel ties the house to the foundation and the concrete strengthens across the foundation and floor of the building. This steel is like our vertical relationship with the Lord, and the concrete is like our relationship with one another. We can’t have one without the other. When the concrete floor is poured covering over the foundation it lays the platform for the structure of the house to be built on. It appears superficial, however, it covers all the work that has gone into the foundations and is the base for the growth of the next stage, the building of the house.
We are all in process but like the building it must be built upon the rock, Jesus Christ.
The deep work is unseen, however, it is what defines us and equips us ready for what the Lord wants in bringing us to fulfilling our calls. The truth is we cannot escape from the dealings of God, and endurance is a part of the building of fortitude into our lives. Sadly many have abandoned their destiny or tried to short cut what the Lord is doing because it got too hard. For many, we have gone around the mountain a few times but to endure is to actually be prepared to navigate and climb directly up the mountain with the help of the Holy Spirit and the ones the Lord has given to help us along the way. A while ago a word came to us at Forerunners about climbing up the mountain and the way we needed to be tied together following Lynne as she leads the expedition. As you near the top of the mountain greater energy is needed for it is often the steepest part of the climb. When we think of endurance, perseverance and patience, they are often mistaken as meaning the same or similar. However they are quite different.
To endure means to undergo pain. It is an ability to withstand prolonged strain. It is to tolerate, to bear, to last, remain and to suffer.
To strain is to press to extremes. It requires exertion.
To suffer means to experience pain, or grief or discomfort.
The meaning of persevere is to continue steadfastly, persist in and to maintain effort.
Patience is calm endurance of hardship, pain and delay. When I think of patience it is more passive where as to endure requires exertion, it requires effort, it is more active.
It is interesting to note that where the King James Version of the Bible has the word endure, it is found in the NIV and other versions as patience. However, the difference in meaning between these two words is quite profound. When we think of endure it does require suffering, strain, discomfort and exertion. They are words that are not so ‘user friendly’, however, if we are honest, for many who are in the process of enduring the true meaning of endure best describes what we are feeling.
Many are going through a time of transition. There is a sense of change of season but what is to come hasn’t quite been released yet. It is a waiting on God time, a time to endure when nothing seems to be happening. It feels uncomfortable and it is especially designed to build muscle to our faith. It is having our faces set like flint keeping our eyes fixed on the prize. There can be no wavering.
It is interesting going through Scripture to see the areas where there will be enduring.
Following are some areas the Bible tells us we must endure.
1. Hated for the Lord’s name sake:
Matthew 10:22 - ‘And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake; but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.’
This verse says about enduring even when family rise up against us when we make a stand for the Lord. People will hate us and for what we stand for but to endure this brings salvation.
2. Bearing tribulations, persecution and enduring afflictions:
2 Thessalonians 1:4-7 - ‘So that we ourselves glory in you in the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that ye endure: Which is a manifest token of the righteous judgment of God, that ye may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God for which ye also suffer: Seeing it is a righteous thing with God to recompense tribulation to them that trouble you.’
It is sobering to think that our endurance is about being counted as worthy of the Kingdom of God. We should not be surprised then when we suffer persecutions and afflictions.
3. Enduring hardship
2 Timothy 2:3 - ‘Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.
No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier. And if a man also strive for masteries, yet he is not crowned, except he strive lawfully.’
We are quick to picture ourselves as soldiers in an army however we forget that a soldier at war has to endure much. We must remain single minded, never forgetting the crown which is ours, It is dependent upon choosing not to get caught up in the cares of our day to day lives. Easier said than done I think.
4. Enduring afflictions
2 Timothy 2:9,10 - ‘Wherein I suffer trouble, as an evil doer, even unto bonds; but the word of God is not bound. Therefore I endure all things for the elect’s sakes, that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.’
We are sinners and we will all suffer troubles. It is how we endure our troubles that is the test. It is about our attitudes, how quickly we repent, and the choices we make to walk in His righteousness. Perhaps it can best be described as outworking our salvation with fear and trembling. That is a day to day experience and we are each accountable for how we do this.
5. Endure chastening:
Hebrews 12:7 - ‘If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?’
Whether we like it or not the Lord disciplines those He loves. We all have areas in our lives that the Lord is adjusting and correcting and that means enduring these areas of discipline. It is about being willing to be trained in the things of God so we would be true examples of ones with Godly character. This requires day to day choices. Choosing God’s way instead of our own is not always easy, however, to endure these disciplines grow us up into Him.
6. Endure patience:
James 5:10,11 - ‘Take, my brethren, the prophets, who have spoken in the name of the Lord, for an example of suffering affliction and of patience. Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heart of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy.’
In these days and times it is hard to equate suffering affliction with blessing. We so often moan and groan when things are going wrong forgetting that it is the Lord bringing the circumstances to test us to see if we will endure. This is in fact a blessing of God, a thought not often easily aligned with our day to day experiences. However it is a way of God. We live in a society of the here and now, of instant gratification so to endure with patience flies in the face of what is happening in our world today.
It is interesting to note that prophets are mentioned as ones who must endure patience.
If you are called as a prophet one of the tests will be endurance. It is part of the requirements of the training of a prophet.
7. Endure unjust suffering:
1 Peter 2:19,20 - ‘For this is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully. For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? But if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, for this is acceptable with God.’
There are times in our lives when we are placed under harsh leaders in the work place or in an environment where we are to submit ourselves to ungodly governing authority. This releases the favour of God as we pass these tests of character. It is about suffering for right when you know things are wrong. It may require quietly yielding to this authority or it may require speaking out. No matter which way it will mean attracting the favour of God on your life.
8. Endure for the promise:
Hebrews 6:13-15 - ‘For when God made promise to Abraham, because he could swear by no greater, he sware by himself, Saying, surely blessing I will bless thee, and multiplying I will multiply thee. And so, after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise.’
This is the place many of us are at. We see the promise, it is out there, however, it is about enduring for the perfect timing of God for His release of the promises to us.
Everything is in the timing of God and it is a good thing to endure for the promise for multiplication will come if we faithfully endure.
9. Endurance brings faith:
Hebrews 11:27 - ‘By faith Moses forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king; for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible.’
Moses was an example of a man of faith, who stood his ground before the king believing God would come through for him. He believed in an unseen God, just as we do. This increases the faith in our lives.
10. Endure temptation:
James 1:12 - ‘Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love Him.’
This is about overcoming every temptation that comes our way. Temptations will come, but it is what we do with them that is the test. The choice is ours.
11. Love endures all things:
1 Corinthians 13:7 - ‘Love beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.’
Ultimately for us to endure it is about love, - that is the love of God toward us and our love toward each other. Love will get us through every trial. That is why we need the Lord and each other. We cannot do it alone. We were never meant to do it alone that is why we have our church family.
It is interesting to note that with every verse on endurance there was always good coming IF we pass the test of endurance. These included salvation, being worthy of the Kingdom of God, receiving the crown, eternal glory, the Father’s love, blessing, acceptance, promises to us and an increase in faith, favour and the multiplication in the fulfilment of the promises. It brings everything into context and reminds us that it is not only about us here at this time on earth but it is also about our destiny and spending time with Him in eternity.
If we endure, there are rewards for us, such is the grace and mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ. Life is a journey, endurance for the race can only come from the Lord.
We are graced this year to endure and we can do it with the Lord’s help!
