Being strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy; giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. Colossians 1:11‭-‬14 (ESV)

We will never make it to the end by trying harder but trusting more in Christ. This contrasts our natural tendency to take control of our situation on our own. We prefer to look for ways to get to work and make things happen by any means. I have faced many temptations to make things work my way but I praise God for the strength that he has given me to trust him more and more. Yes, God has called us to do great things. But we will fail in all that he has called us to be and to do if we are not depending on him for the strength necessary to endure to make it to the end.

Enduring, persevering and waiting patiently is easy to say but painful in practice. The present technology has contributed a lot in us towards it. We can endure not because we have put a lot of time into training ourselves to persevere. We can endure because our ‘God is a God of endurance’ (Rom. 15:5) who is faithful to carry out the good works he has begun in us (Phil 1:6). We can endure to the end because God has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son. To trust God more requires that we recognise our dependence on him, and know his power and purpose in our calling.

Need to endure?

– Look to the journey of Jesus to the cross.

– Go to God who is the God of endurance.