7 Bible Passages About Endurance
Troubles don’t always last, but sometimes they are persistent and overwhelming. It may feel like we have been crushed under the weight of circumstances until we want to give up. Though every trial has an end date, there are some that we will have to endure patiently. We are encouraged to endure hardness as good soldiers, having the proper posture and mindset. Here are seven passages that will help you endure.
We can have joy when troubles come because we know that these troubles produce patient endurance. Endurance produces spiritual maturity. Spiritual maturity produces hope, a confident assurance of God’s love that is poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit.
We also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope. Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us. Romans 5:3-5
Trials come to test your faith. When you patiently endure these trials, you can have joy knowing that the hardships in life do not have the power to stop you. And when you endure them, they produce something great within you. You will be complete and mature, lacking no good thing.
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. James 1:3-4
We should lay aside all the things that prevent us from running well. Some things are sinful; we need to get them out of our lives. Some things are not sinful but are a distraction in our walk with God. When we lay aside those things, we can run with endurance. Look to Jesus as our perfect example. He is the one who began our faith, and he makes our faith perfect.
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. Hebrew 12:1-1
We are but jars of clay, but we carry a great treasure, immeasurable power that comes from God. This great power helps us to endure. Because the treasure we have is from God, trouble may come, but we will not be defeated, we will not be destroyed, and we will not give up, knowing that we are never abandoned. We have the power to keep on moving!
We have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us. We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed.
2 Corinthians 4:7-9
Don’t allow what happened in the past (good or bad) to keep you stagnant in the present. Forgetting the past things is an essential step in endurance and forward movement as we press to attain the prize of the upward call that comes only through Christ Jesus.
Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 3:13-14
Be steadfast–stand firm, be stable, and enduring. Do not let anything move you. Give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord. We can be firmly planted in Christ, having unshakable faith in God’s love for us. Know that nothing you do for God will ever be wasted.
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
The Apostle Paul wrote to the Philippians church who had sown financially to him in his time of need. He thanked them and told them that he knew how to endure challenging situations and good times. He knew how to maintain joy when he was hungry and when he was full. He knew how to handle having a lot and having very little. The key to his endurance was the strength that comes from his relationship with Christ. That is how we can stand firm even in the midst of adversity.
Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Philippians 4:11-13
Never take these passages in isolation. Read them in context. Meditate on them and allow the Holy Spirit to teach you these precious truths over and over again. Then encourage one another with these passages. Click here to get these passages in as a FREE printable so that you may tuck them in your pocket or purse or so that you can share them with others.
I couldn’t list all scriptures on endurance here. What passages would you add to the list? Let me know in the comments. Don’t forget to like, comment, and share.
Your friend in the journey,
Erica
Remember, the Word W.O.R.K.S. We are walking in WHOLENESS, OBEDIENCE, RIGHTEOUSNESS, and KINGDOM SUCCESS through the Word of God.