E-N-D-U-R-E

Written by Minister Dominique Brunson; Northeastern NY District

Abundant greetings, ladies! 

I pray that this note finds all of you having a safe and in the best of health and spirits. I want to briefly share with you what God has laid on my heart about how important it is for us to ENDURE, just as the saints before us have done.

The word "endure" is defined as (1) To carry on through, despite hardships; undergo and (2,) To bear with tolerance. Despite what we go through, we must carry on and make the most of it (there's where the tolerance comes in). Now, I know there are times when we just get tired of going through situations, many of which are beyond our control (making them all the more frustrating, LOL).

However, we must CONTINUE to go through because that is the only way that we will eventually come out! Ecclesiastes 9:11 tells us that the race is not given to the swift nor the battle to the strong, so although you may not be the strongest person in the world, you can still win according to your faith. For you Disney fans, I think Dorie said it best, "Just keep swimming..." 

Think about it. Those of you who run can probably relate to this: in any race, there comes a point when you feel like you've given your everything and you can't make it any further. But, it is at THAT point that you switch from simply "running" to PRESSING. The pressing period is where you have to endure. This period of pressing is the transition point (pressure point) between your running and your crossing the finish line.

Similarly, at the transition point between two levels in life is where it becomes hardest to keep going. But, that is also the point where your strength runs out and the power of the Holy Spirit takes over. Isn't it wonderful to know that you have Someone to help you be strong even at your weakest moment? In 2 Corinthians 12:9, God tells us that His strength is made perfect in our weakness, so there's no need to be "Superwoman" for God. He is glad when we can be humble enough to allow him to take over. 

In today's world, there is so much going on with politics, the economy, the schools, and even the church. Because of this, some people are just giving up. But remember, it is the grace and mercy of God that can make the difference between giving up and going on. So, I want to leave you with this well-known poem to encourage you to hang in there and E-N-D-U-R-E! I believe that there IS something better past your "pressure point".

Don't Quit (Author unknown)

When things go wrong, as they sometimes will,

When the road you're trudging seems all uphill,

When the funds are low and the debts are high,

And you want to smile, but you have to sigh,

When care is pressing you down a bit,

Rest, if you must, but don't you quit.

 

Life is queer with its twists and turns,

As every one of us sometimes learns,

And many a failure turns about,

When he might have won had he stuck it out;

Don't give up though the pace seems slow--

You may succeed with another blow.

 

Often the goal is nearer than,

It seems to a faint and faltering man,

Often the struggler has given up,

When he might have captured the victor's cup,

And he learned too late when the night slipped down,

How close he was to the golden crown.

 

Success is failure turned inside out—

The silver tint of the clouds of doubt,

And you never can tell how close you are,

It may be near when it seems so far,

So stick to the fight when you're hardest hit--

It's when things seem worst that you must not quit