Endure the Unendurable

Scripture

We pray that you'll have the strength to stick it out over the long haul - not the grim strength of gritting your teeth but the glory-strength God gives. It is a strength that endures the unendurable and spills over into joy, -Colossians 1:11

What does it mean to walk worthy of the Lord? It means living a life that honors God, where actions align with spiritual convictions, demonstrating love, integrity, and gratitude for His grace and calling. As we walk in this manner, God's strength will be given to us. The 'strength' that Paul is praying for is described as 'all power' from His 'glorious might'. This kind of strength does not come from man, but from the power of the living God. Beloved, by now I'm sure you are aware that life brings on its fair share of challenges, but God is concerned with how we're facing our trials. 

Paul was not referring to the grim strength of gritting your teeth, which means that it is not a joyful or easy display of power, but power born from a difficult necessity. Paul admonished us to count it all joy when we face various trials because they produce patience and endurance in us. (James 1:2-3) The strength that will be produced in us comes from glory. This divine power enables us to have steadfastness, longsuffering, and joy, even amidst difficult circumstances. This is the kind of power that allows us to endure the unendurable. The unendurable are situations that arise in a person's life that are seemingly difficult to overcome. For example, the tragic loss of a child, divorce, foreclosure on homes, passing of a parent, or losing a job with a family to provide for. These circumstances have the potential to cut deep, but with God's strength, the unendurable is endured. This is why the promise is given through Isaiah, "You will keep Him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on You because He trusts in You." (Isaiah 23:6)

God's strength produces peace in the midst of the trials. It is that peace that surpasses all understanding and guards our hearts and our minds. (Philippians 4:7) Yes, we're facing the trial, but the peace produced from God's strength is protecting us from anxiety and worry. We're not producing strength from difficult necessity, but strength is produced from a quiet trust in God. Instead of worry and anxiety, God's power brings joy. We're confident that our well-being is in Christ, rather than our circumstances. Our troubles don't dictate our state of mind, but our faith and trust in God do. With this kind of strength, a strength that endures the unbearable, our trials no longer get a vote in our victory. 

Prayer

Father, thank you for your glorious might and power. Please strengthen us with all your strength so that we can endure everything with patience, and even with joy. May we live a life that reflects your glorious power. In Jesus' name. Amen