Session 5: Endurance (Character: Reclaiming 6 endangered qualities)

(Contributed by: Cynthia Choi)

Endurance to me is quite a pretty strong word. At first, I thought patience and endurance are same. where we have to bear in a situation. But, the difference is Patience = having the ability to wait, whereas Endurance = having the ability to continue in doing something inspite of the difficult or unpleasant situations for quite a long time. Not denying that patience and endurance actually works hand in hand. Am sure without being patience, we won't be able to endure difficult situations.

Even the bible often mentions about endurance, hardships, etc. I remembered when I was in the 1st 3 years of marriage, it was tough, I meant really tough. Was having pain emotionally, physically tired (conceived after 2 months of marriage and husband wasn't there all the time, worked till very late) and somehow it affected me spiritually. Somehow, I thank God that I managed to pull thru that difficult stage of marriage and there were cries on and off and I guess this is endurance and not patience.

Where pain is involved and I guess it's for the good too as one will seek God earnestly in times of trouble. I believe God allows us to go thru difficult situation to make us mature and to grow closer to him everyday. Should our life is like a bed of roses, I don't think we need God at all.

Not only in family relationships, but pain can happen in relationships with others, work, ministries, spiritual warfare. We must not lose our focus when the world seems to be stumbling down because we have the victory in Him. We need to proclaim that.

James 5:10-11 NKJV) My brethren, take the prophets, who spoke in the name of the Lord, as an example of suffering and patience. {11} Indeed we count them blessed who endure. You have heard of the perseverance of Job and seen the end intended by the Lord; that the Lord is very compassionate and merciful.

(Hebrews 12:1-4 NKJV) 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, {2} 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. {3} For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls. {4} You have not yet resisted to bloodshed, striving against sin.

Romans 5:3-4 ESV) More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope,

We can be rest assured that we are not walking alone when trials or difficult situation comes. When I just accepted Christ, went thru persecutions, dad disallowed me to attend church, dad scolded and ridiculed by friends as 'Jesus freak'. I couldn't stand it anymore and as I was seeking the Lord, the scripture that caught my attention was from James 1:2-4 Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. I asked God 'What? Count it all joy? How to be joyful when I'm going thru these...it was like hell, hated it!!!'. Somehow, as I did not rebel and endured what I was going thru, things seemed to simmer down and dad allowed me to go to church and friends wasn't teasing me anymore. All these happened unexpectedly and our Father in Heaven does know when the right time comes. Of course, I was overjoyed.

To conclude, many of us may be going thru some hard times one way or another, we can say 'I give up' or 'I press on for You, Jesus'. The decision is in our hands. Prayerfully it will be pressing on for Jesus as we want to give glory and honor to Him at the end of the day and let's trample on the scorpions and say 'Shooo! Devil'. Luke 10:19 I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you.

(Cynthia Choi)

Session 4: Patience (Character: Reclaiming 6 endangered qualities)

(Contributed by: Adrian Yong)

I can associate with the author when he says “Patience runs contrary to my temperament”.

But I took great pride when Cassandra’s god-sister said “Adrian is so patient (explaining the different pasta and sauces to her kids). I would have told them to just eat it.”

So, what is patience ?

I have been told often that “Patience is a virtue” but that doesn’t tell me what it is.

Pr 19:11 (NIV) “A man’s wisdom gives him patience; it is to his glory to overlook an offense” and in KJV it reads “The discretion of man deferreth his anger; and [it is] his glory to pass over a transgression”.

Can patience be defined as deferment of anger ?

Does being patient means indifferent to situations ?

Does God get angry ?

When we don’t walk with God and deviate, what would God do ? Does He rebuke and discipline us ? Is His silence disapproval of our wrongs or departure from His ways ?

Is patience an alternative way of showing our disapproval to angry outbursts ?

Gal 5:22 “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self control…..”

If patience is a fruit of the Spirit; then, we should have it. But we need to exercise/practice it to develop it in us and for us.

Heb 6:12 “We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised”

Heb 6:15 “And after waiting patiently, Abraham received what was promised”

Jas 5:7-11 “Patience in suffering”

From these three passages, patience is not about being indifferent and it does lead to definite outcomes.

In summary, I suggest to you that patience is not an attitude of indifference but an alternative way to rebuke and discipline without angry outbursts achieving definite outcomes. Just like the prodigal son, who did not receive support for his wayward ways, has finally decided to return to the patiently waiting father.

All of us have patience but we need to develop it further through God’s wisdom so that we gradually reduce incidences of angry outburst or rage...

God bless….

(Adrian Yong)