I don’t know how you’re wired, but I have something very specific that I require to keep going in life, marriage, leadership and ministry……..Affirmation. I need cheerleaders along the way who encourage, inspire and speak life over me. (Definitely the top in my list of Love Languages!) I am not hard-wired to the approval of man to keep going. If that were the case I would have given up on most things very early on. But, the encouragement I receive from others is like a shot of adrenaline in life for me.

However, there is reality too! Those people will not always be there. The words of encouragement will not always come when you’re feeling worn out. Sometimes we get so distracted, busy, upset or worried that we can’t even hear the words of encouragement that are being directed to us. In those time we have to keep moving, we have to keep working hard even though we are fatigued….This means we have to ENDURE all that life has to bring us!

So, how do we endure?

Well, we do the only thing that can be consistent at all times. We do the only thing that has true value in this life……We rely on the truth of God’s Word to give us encouragement. We feed our spirit and soul with the truth that God has given us in scripture.

When life is tough, ministry is hard and our world seems to be out of control I turn to two verses that always remind me of what God’s promises, plans and desires are for me.

And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. Philippians 1:6 ESV

And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. Galatians 6:9 ESV

Just remember that God is still working to complete the very thing He started in you. You are a work in progress, and the tough days are part of the process of helping you grow.

More than anything, keep on going. Have the endurance to keep doing the very thing you know God has called you to do. God blesses our perseverance and our willingness to stick to it. Just like running a race…..there will be tough, if not impossible, moments. But, if you endure God will complete the very thing He has started in you!