The Road of Endurance

Imagine with me a dusty road, carrying a heavy burden on your back, your body stinging from the pain of open wounds, people who love you turning their backs on you, preparing to meet your death, and experiencing abandonment from God.  Here in these words lie the key to endurance.  Our Lord and Savior walked this dusty road to die on a cross for us.  He has felt a greater burden than any of us will ever have to carry.  He has endured the pain of being physically hurt.  He was rejected by many who He loved and did so much for.  He faced death willingly.  He also left the glory of His home in heaven to come into our world.

What challenges do you face today?  When we follow our friends on Facebook, we see the struggles of those we know and love.  We are surrounded by the crying out of hearts in this world.  We see sickness, loss, anger, lust, fear, confusion, regret & hurt as we scroll through our feeds.  How do we endure through these struggles?  Jesus is our role model in all we do.  Even though I know we aren't Jesus and it is hard for us to mirror His obedience, that doesn't mean we throw our hands up and not strive to follow His lead.  As we face whatever we are being hit with today or what might lie in our future, we can turn to the scriptures in the book of Hebrews and run with perseverance.  "Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.  Consider Him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart."

In the verse following these scriptures (Hebrews 12:4), the words remind us we haven't yet come to the point of shedding our own blood, willingly for unworthy sinners like Jesus did.  How did Jesus do this and why?  He looked through the pain of the cross.  Whatever cross you might be bearing today, I challenge you to also look through it.  When we are hurting, we can get to the other side of our pain.  Whether it be here or in eternity.  There is another beautiful chapter of the story of YOU that needs to unfold.  Sometimes it just takes tears, time and trust to get there.