If our goal is endurance, what do we need to remember as we pray?

The Apostle Paul eloquently wrote, “And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart” (Galatians 6:9). Do you find it easy to grow weary in well doing? Can you connect with what the Apostle describes? Every follower of Jesus Christ faces daily pressures, and some more than others. If our goal is endurance or perseverance, what do we need to remember as we pray?

 

First, Is This For You?

What does the Apostle mean when he refers to “well doing“? If this is your question, you have asked a good one. Well doing can mean anything that would fit under the category of walking in the Spirit as we live out the fruit of the Spirit. Of course, as this text indicates, it includes restoring others, bearing others’ burdens, and sharing with others. But it includes everything else that fits under the category of walking in the Spirit as well.

• Tired mom, this is for you. Doing good includes meals, diapers, transportation, cleaning, laundry, work, and so much more.
• Worn out dad, this is for you. Doing good includes everything on your plate like whatever your wife asks you to do, work, coaching, and all the rest.
• Concerned grandparent, you are included as well. Taking care of grandchildren, seeking to help children, helping friends, and so much more.
• Embattled husbands and wives, this text speaks to you too. There are so many things that are included in doing good for spouses.
• Grieving widows and widowers, you are here too. As you continue to take each step forward, you are doing good.
• And, as you can see, we have only begun to scratch the surface. Employees, employers, students, teachers, friends, fellow members of the body of Christ, this text is for you as well.

If our goal is endurance, what do we need to remember as we pray?

As you pray and ask God for endurance as you strive to walk in the Spirit in faithfulness to Christ and in serving others, what do you need to remember as you pray?

I will provide for you five specific truths to remember as you pray; however, first, let me give you key texts without commentary to consider. The five truths rest inside the teaching of these passages.

Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord. (1 Corinthians 15:58)

Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls. (Hebrews 12:1-3)

No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it. (1 Corinthians 10:13)

My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. (James 1:2-5)

And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified. (Romans 8:28-30)

I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. (Galatians 5:16-17)

Therefore, in all things He had to be made like His brethren, that He might be a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. For in that He Himself has suffered, being tempted, He is able to aid those who are tempted. (Hebrews 2:17-18)

Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need. (Hebrews 4:14-16)

And when they had preached the gospel to that city and made many disciples, they returned to Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch, strengthening the souls of the disciples, exhorting them to continue in the faith, and saying, “We must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God.” (Acts 14:21-22)

Five Specific Truths to Remember as You Pray

• Who God is

As you pray, remember who God is and what He does. In this situation, God faithfully limits your exposure to pressure while providing you the Spirit to enable you to endure. He is faithful to do this. He further allows your pressures in His plan in order to help you grow into Christlikeness as you endure them. God allows you to undergo pressures that will push you beyond your limits, and in those, He is faithful to sustain you by His grace. While sustaining you, He provides you wisdom to walk faithfully along the path of life.

• What situations are

Situations are opportunities for you to grow as you endure the pressures in them. God provides these in a variety of providential ways which fit His plan in order to help you and others around you become more sanctified in Christ. These situational pressures provide the providential context by which you can grow in your love, devotion, and faithfulness to Jesus Christ.

• Who you are

God created you in His image; therefore, as an image-bearer of God, you have the opportunity to grow into greater and greater Christlikeness. Yet, while you are on earth, you face all the limitations of humanity. In every way that you can demonstrate godliness, you can also demonstrate ungodliness. This is true of everyone else as well. The Apostle Paul calls this a battle: the flesh vs the Spirit. Thankfully, in the midst of this battle, God also provides you grace that is up to the challenge of living for Jesus. God is keenly aware of your weaknesses, your sin, your weights which so easily ensnare you, and your limits. Knowing all of this about you, God provides help and hope from His throne through the Spirit and empowers your faithfulness and endurance.

• Where you focus

Because of the extent and weight of our suffering, many times we can develop the habit of looking at, considering, and thinking through all the many details of our pressured circumstances. We think horizontally about those who have sinned against us, those against whom we have sinned, unknown conclusions to suffering, “what ifs…”, and so much more. This increases our pressures and our anxiety. Instead, our focus in prayer needs to be Jesus. When we look to Jesus, we are enabled to endure. We see that He endured His suffering and shame as He considered the joy that was set before Him. He walked in the Spirit as He kept His eyes on glorifying God even in the most desperate of situations. He did it and endured. We need to look to Him, His joy, His presence, and His brotherhood to us in suffering. Thus, we focus vertically and bring our horizontal concerns to Him through prayer.

• What awaits

As you pray, remember what comes next. Heaven and eternity awaits. We enter into the kingdom of God at the end of this life. The trials are temporary in light of what comes in the future. Therefore, we eagerly anticipate that future day with the future promise of His kingdom. We pray expectantly for Jesus to come back. We long for the future redemption of all the world around us. We keep this in mind as we pray.

 

Let’s Pray Together

Heavenly Father,

I do not know what the pressures are on the reader today – but you do. As we pray together, no doubt there are heavy hearts, burdens, various levels of suffering, and situations way beyond what we can handle ourselves. Since our goal is endurance, we stop to remember these truths together even as we pray. Thank you for actively participating in our lives. You limit our pressures, provide us grace to endure, generously give us wisdom, and provide just the right combination of life’s pressures to grow us toward Christlikeness. We thank you and depend upon your faithfulness to do these things. What a joy to remember that you never leave us or forsake us, you are covenant faithful, and never change.

Our pressures are many. Thankfully, God, you know them. Further, you know the desires of our hearts as your kids. Would you please answer our prayer according to your plan? Would you provide the answer that best fits your plan, corresponds to your grace, and provides a way forward toward our being like Jesus? We think of the situational pressures of many that we know and of their heartaches; as we do, we ask that you would help them enjoy your grace, long for your grace, and embrace your grace. Would you please use your grace to help them take the next step toward sanctification for your glory?

We confess that we are weak. Pressures burden us. We do not know how we will make it. Our weaknesses, sins, and weights tend to make us feel like we are drowning more than thriving. In this moment, will you please remind our souls deeply of your enabling grace that allows us to endure? Help us take to heart your promises, our security in Christ, and the truth of the Scriptures.

We look unto Jesus who is the author and finisher of our faith. We strive to be faithful like He was. In the midst of our circumstances, we look for the joy that is set before us. We desire to be faithful to you as He was faithful to you, to take pleasure in the fear of the Lord, and receive pleasure from faithfulness. We ask for your mercy and grace. You know us and know our pressures because Jesus is our brother in suffering. Since this is true, we depend desperately on you.

The doorway to heaven looks better and better. Through it, we get to spend time with you, bring you perfect and endless glory, and serve you with each other throughout eternity. We do not understand exactly how great it is; however, we know it will be good. It is our inheritance in Christ. The future joy sets before us. As it does, we desire to be faithful, to endure hardness as a good soldier of Jesus Christ, and to endure until that future day when you either take us home or send Jesus for us. Whichever it is, we cry out, “Even so come, Lord Jesus.”

In all of these things, we pray in Jesus’ name,

Amen

 

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