Enduring Well

Enduring Well

Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne. Hebrews 12:2

ATHLETES ENDURE LONG YEARS of early-morning training, intense workouts, and seemingly endless exercise repetitions for a shot at a championship or Olympic medal. People trying to get in shape submit to rigorous diets and exercise programs for the health and look they want. Scholars spend years in arduous research for the great discovery or paradigm-shifting publication they have set their hearts on. We understand the need for sacrifice in order to reach a greater and higher good. It’s built into our nature.

Jesus willingly suffered the torture, humiliation, and separation of the Cross in order to experience the endless honor and glory to follow. It’s true that he sought another way in his fervent prayer the night before, but the emotion of joy at the end of the journey outweighed the emotion of fear at the front of it. The writer of Hebrews used that focus as an example for Christians who were entertaining second thoughts about the faith they had initially embraced. Jesus kept his gaze on the prize, and that was enough for him to run the race with endurance.

In our prayers of faith, some of which can take years and involve confusing and challenging turns, we will need the same focus—not just on the answer itself but on the joy and satisfaction of the answer. The journey can be demanding, but the end is exhilarating. The more we can emotionally, mentally, expectantly put ourselves in the place of having already received—celebrating, laughing, rejoicing, and giving thanks for the fulfillment—the more we will be able to persist in faith. It’s part of our Kingdom vision. We can endure a lot when we are focused on the prize.

Just as God told barren women to rejoice over their coming children (Isaiah 54:1) and invited a celebration of beauty and praise instead of ashes and mourning (Isaiah 61:3), he tells us to fix our vision by faith on the joy set before us—in the grand scheme of eternity and the prayers of our passing lives. All faith in him ends in glory and is very much worth the journey.

You can fight with confidence where you are sure of victory.