Endurance

As of this week, we are 100 days away from the Summer Olympic Games in Paris, France.  Can you imagine the anticipation and the emotions that these athletes are starting to have because the Olympics are so close.  Think about how many of these athletes have been training for much of their life for this one special moment.  All of the hard work, long hours of practice, constant training have brought forth a quality they probably didn’t realize they would need.  That word would be ENDURANCE!
Endurance defined is the ability to withstand hardship or adversity.  As I shared this past Sunday the book of James is point blank in stating, ‘when we face various trials.”  Adversity and hardship in life are a given.  Endurance is not always a given for people though.  Believers in Christ are called to run the race different than other people.  James uses terminology like Joy when describing our journey of trials.  This is not normal to most people, but we know that our Lord is always refining us and shaping us, even in our stressful moments.  This will lead us to a life of endurance for the sake of Christ!
Several years ago I was walking the track at the University of North Alabama.  It was late in the afternoon when I noticed a young woman starting to stretch and prepare to run.  It didn’t take me long to realize this wasn’t your typical athlete I was watching.  She had competed and won distance races in the SEC and was training to make the USA Olympic team.  As she started to run it looked different than other runners. Her stride was long but effortless as she whisked by me the first time.  It sounded different.  Most runners you can hear them breathing harder, but this runner was breathing silently.  Her steps were even quieter than most as if she seemed like she was floating around the track.  Word spread quickly that she was running on the track and other athletes and coaches came out just to watch her.  Why?  Because of her training and endurance, she ran differently. And others took notice!
The church was spreading to other places because the early Christians had been dispersed.  Places like Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch were now the new homes for early believers who had been driven away from their homes.  The author Jamse is telling them to endure these trials and see what God might do in the future. Trials are difficult but the question is do we throw in the white towel or do we press on to the checkered flag?
When I met this world-class runner at UNA, all I could think about was what it took for her to get to this point.  Countless hours of difficult training and yet to see her now, it seemed effortless.  The endurance had produced fruit. So many people experience trials but never see the fruit. Why?  They give up, they give in or maybe they don’t look for the end results.  But those with a vision for the big picture realize the trial and training are temporary but the reward is eternal.  Endurance is not just the finish line of trials, endurance is the staring line of triumphs of the future.  I remind you of my words from Sunday, don’t just lean on to Jesus, lean in with Jesus. Learn from Him as you endure!