Endurance

  James 1:3

            “For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow.”

            I have a very good friend who recently participated in an Ironman competition.  He freely speaks with wonder at how his body has changed. He is able to endure things now that he never could have imagined.  It may seem an odd comparison, but I believe those of us with chronic illness or pain may be able to relate to my friend’s wonder…not at how much our body can do, but how much we’ve been through, and how much we’ve endured that we never could have imagined. 

            When our physical health is tested, so is our faith.  How did I get here? Why am I experiencing this?  How can I make the pain or illness or struggle stop?  These are normal questions that come from our experiences before this point in our life.  I think there are more useful questions that can help us at this stage: In what ways am I mentally and emotionally stronger now than I was before?  How has God shown me that I am not alone in this time?  Where have I seen God’s gentle hand carrying me through these days and encouraging me when I just don’t have anymore strength?  How has my faith and endurance grown from where I was before?

            These are hard questions. Honestly, these are not questions I can face every day, because sometimes I’m just not at a mental place where I can answer them. But, when I am able to focus on how I’ve grown in this time, these questions can bring a lot of wisdom and strength.

Dear God, help me to see how I’ve grown mentally and spiritually stronger through my experiences. On the days I have no more endurance, please carry me.  Amen.