1 00:00:02,759 --> 00:00:14,760 Speaker 1: Life Audio. This is Donna Jones and you are listening 2 00:00:14,800 --> 00:00:18,360 Speaker 1: to That's just what I needed. Hey, friend, if you've 3 00:00:18,400 --> 00:00:21,360 Speaker 1: ever been in a conversation where you've walked away thinking, Wow, 4 00:00:21,480 --> 00:00:23,919 Speaker 1: that was just what I needed, you know how life 5 00:00:23,920 --> 00:00:26,439 Speaker 1: giving that can be, Well, that's what this podcast is 6 00:00:26,440 --> 00:00:29,360 Speaker 1: all about. We're women who want to know, love, and 7 00:00:29,440 --> 00:00:32,600 Speaker 1: follow God in our real lives, but sometimes wonder just 8 00:00:32,680 --> 00:00:35,160 Speaker 1: how to do it. So each week we'll talk about 9 00:00:35,159 --> 00:00:37,480 Speaker 1: what following God looks like in the midst of daily 10 00:00:37,479 --> 00:00:42,000 Speaker 1: demands and crazy cultural chaos. Because this isn't just what 11 00:00:42,040 --> 00:00:46,760 Speaker 1: we need, it's actually exactly what we need. Hey, my friend, 12 00:00:46,840 --> 00:00:50,519 Speaker 1: welcome to the podcast. We have a special episode for 13 00:00:50,640 --> 00:00:53,240 Speaker 1: you today, or I should say I have a special 14 00:00:53,280 --> 00:00:56,080 Speaker 1: episode for you today. I think you're really going to 15 00:00:56,160 --> 00:00:59,400 Speaker 1: find it helpful. But before we jump into the content 16 00:00:59,520 --> 00:01:02,600 Speaker 1: of today's episode, I want to remind you that this 17 00:01:02,760 --> 00:01:06,240 Speaker 1: week is your last chance to enter the free giveaway 18 00:01:06,400 --> 00:01:09,080 Speaker 1: for the book a Verse a Day for the Ancient Soul. 19 00:01:09,319 --> 00:01:13,520 Speaker 1: That's right, I'm giving away that wonderful, wonderful book to 20 00:01:13,680 --> 00:01:15,800 Speaker 1: one lucky winner. And here's all you have to do. 21 00:01:15,920 --> 00:01:18,440 Speaker 1: You just need to leave a review on the podcast. 22 00:01:18,560 --> 00:01:21,960 Speaker 1: That's it. Just write one or two sentences about this podcast, 23 00:01:22,000 --> 00:01:24,759 Speaker 1: reviewing it. Hopefully you give it five stars, and I'm 24 00:01:24,760 --> 00:01:27,000 Speaker 1: going to pick a lucky winner from someone who leaves 25 00:01:27,000 --> 00:01:30,240 Speaker 1: a review, and next week, the next episode, I am 26 00:01:30,280 --> 00:01:33,319 Speaker 1: going to reveal that winner. So listen in to see 27 00:01:33,360 --> 00:01:36,600 Speaker 1: if you have won. Well, let me tell you a 28 00:01:36,600 --> 00:01:41,399 Speaker 1: little bit about today's podcast. It comes basically because of 29 00:01:41,440 --> 00:01:44,039 Speaker 1: something that I've been learning in my life, and I 30 00:01:44,200 --> 00:01:49,440 Speaker 1: have been observing other women, some who have this quality, 31 00:01:49,520 --> 00:01:54,160 Speaker 1: some who don't have this quality, and how it's affecting 32 00:01:54,280 --> 00:01:58,480 Speaker 1: all of us individually and just even collectively as believers, 33 00:01:58,600 --> 00:02:02,120 Speaker 1: especially here in the United States. So before we start today, 34 00:02:02,280 --> 00:02:04,080 Speaker 1: I want you to take a deep breath with me, 35 00:02:04,640 --> 00:02:09,200 Speaker 1: because if you pressed play on this particular episode, maybe 36 00:02:09,240 --> 00:02:12,560 Speaker 1: something inside you is tired in a way that sleep 37 00:02:12,760 --> 00:02:17,120 Speaker 1: doesn't fix. Not just physically tired, although that may be 38 00:02:17,280 --> 00:02:20,960 Speaker 1: part of it, but perhaps your soul tired. If so, 39 00:02:21,320 --> 00:02:25,880 Speaker 1: you're likely carrying around questions like why God, why is 40 00:02:25,919 --> 00:02:29,320 Speaker 1: this happening? Or why did you allow this? Or maybe 41 00:02:29,440 --> 00:02:32,680 Speaker 1: questions like okay, well what now? Or how do I 42 00:02:32,760 --> 00:02:37,520 Speaker 1: handle this? Maybe you're healing from disappointment, or you're learning 43 00:02:37,600 --> 00:02:40,400 Speaker 1: how to trust again. Or you're just trying to stay 44 00:02:40,440 --> 00:02:43,919 Speaker 1: faithful in a season that feels heavier than you expected. 45 00:02:44,240 --> 00:02:46,040 Speaker 1: I know a lot of us are going through really 46 00:02:46,080 --> 00:02:48,080 Speaker 1: heavy things right now. It just seems like the world 47 00:02:48,200 --> 00:02:51,079 Speaker 1: is heavy. It's been heavy for several years, and that 48 00:02:51,200 --> 00:02:56,920 Speaker 1: cumulative effect of cultural heaviness in tandem with our own 49 00:02:57,000 --> 00:03:01,280 Speaker 1: life circumstances can leave us feeling things like I don't 50 00:03:01,320 --> 00:03:04,520 Speaker 1: know if I can keep doing this. Maybe somewhere quietly, 51 00:03:04,720 --> 00:03:08,160 Speaker 1: maybe even this week, you've thought that. Now I have 52 00:03:08,200 --> 00:03:10,600 Speaker 1: to confess that there have been times in my life 53 00:03:10,919 --> 00:03:13,600 Speaker 1: I've thought that, I've said that, and I bet that, 54 00:03:13,639 --> 00:03:16,760 Speaker 1: if you're honest, you've thought that, and you may have 55 00:03:16,880 --> 00:03:19,680 Speaker 1: even said that too. I know you've probably felt it. 56 00:03:19,960 --> 00:03:23,480 Speaker 1: So today we're going to talk about what happens when 57 00:03:23,480 --> 00:03:27,720 Speaker 1: you reach that moment, because we all do. We're going 58 00:03:27,800 --> 00:03:30,640 Speaker 1: to talk about how God interrupts us there. I don't 59 00:03:30,639 --> 00:03:33,400 Speaker 1: believe that you're listening to this by accident. This is 60 00:03:33,440 --> 00:03:38,320 Speaker 1: a space for women choosing God even when obedience feels uncomfortable, 61 00:03:38,440 --> 00:03:42,120 Speaker 1: for women who are learning endurance rather than escape, for 62 00:03:42,200 --> 00:03:46,640 Speaker 1: women wanting to heal without becoming hardened. So today we're 63 00:03:46,640 --> 00:03:49,360 Speaker 1: going to talk about the moment that you feel like 64 00:03:49,800 --> 00:03:52,840 Speaker 1: I just don't think I can do this anymore. Have 65 00:03:52,960 --> 00:03:57,160 Speaker 1: you ever noticed, though, that nobody ever talks about that 66 00:03:57,240 --> 00:04:00,640 Speaker 1: moment before you quit. I mean, people talk about quitting 67 00:04:00,920 --> 00:04:03,400 Speaker 1: after they quit, but nobody talks about in the moment 68 00:04:03,600 --> 00:04:07,360 Speaker 1: before you quit. I think that's because it doesn't look dramatic. 69 00:04:07,840 --> 00:04:10,920 Speaker 1: I mean, there's no music playing, there's no big announcement. 70 00:04:11,280 --> 00:04:16,880 Speaker 1: It's quiet. It's when you stop praying as honestly, or 71 00:04:17,160 --> 00:04:21,120 Speaker 1: when worship feels heavy, or when showing up feels pointless, 72 00:04:21,640 --> 00:04:25,000 Speaker 1: or when the mundane things of life seem overwhelming, or 73 00:04:25,040 --> 00:04:28,680 Speaker 1: the reverse is true, circumstances feel so overwhelming that you 74 00:04:28,800 --> 00:04:33,120 Speaker 1: just long for simpler times when the mundane things were 75 00:04:33,160 --> 00:04:37,280 Speaker 1: your biggest inconvenience. I mean, you're still functioning, you're still smiling, 76 00:04:37,320 --> 00:04:41,240 Speaker 1: you're still answering messages, but internally you've already packed your 77 00:04:41,240 --> 00:04:45,479 Speaker 1: emotional bags and anything. But what you're experiencing right now 78 00:04:45,760 --> 00:04:49,840 Speaker 1: seems easier than what you're feeling right now. We're naturally 79 00:04:50,160 --> 00:04:54,320 Speaker 1: wired to run from pain, but sometimes there's a good 80 00:04:54,440 --> 00:04:58,120 Speaker 1: kind of pain, the pain that helps us grow. Gosh, 81 00:04:58,320 --> 00:05:01,760 Speaker 1: even just saying that feels hard, right because none of 82 00:05:01,880 --> 00:05:06,719 Speaker 1: us want pain, but the Bible talks about this as endurance. 83 00:05:07,240 --> 00:05:09,920 Speaker 1: You might be surprised, though, at how God deals with 84 00:05:10,000 --> 00:05:13,159 Speaker 1: those who love Him and are also on the brink 85 00:05:13,279 --> 00:05:15,760 Speaker 1: of giving up. One of the most comforting stories in 86 00:05:15,839 --> 00:05:19,119 Speaker 1: scripture lives inside the Book of First Kings, the story 87 00:05:19,120 --> 00:05:21,920 Speaker 1: about Elijah. Elijah was a prophet of God. In fact, 88 00:05:21,960 --> 00:05:24,839 Speaker 1: he was one of the major prophets in the Old Testament, 89 00:05:25,040 --> 00:05:28,640 Speaker 1: and he had just watched God perform a miracle. I 90 00:05:28,640 --> 00:05:31,320 Speaker 1: mean it was one of the biggest miracles recorded in 91 00:05:31,360 --> 00:05:35,440 Speaker 1: all of the scripture. Fire fell from heaven and consumed 92 00:05:35,560 --> 00:05:39,080 Speaker 1: the altars of bail Enemies were defeated, and if social 93 00:05:39,160 --> 00:05:42,800 Speaker 1: media had existed back then, Elijah would have definitely been trending. 94 00:05:42,960 --> 00:05:49,240 Speaker 1: But right after that victory, fear finds him. The king's wife, Jezebel, 95 00:05:49,520 --> 00:05:54,039 Speaker 1: threatens his life, and this fearless prophet is now just 96 00:05:54,240 --> 00:05:59,760 Speaker 1: overcome by fear. He's overwhelmed by pressure, he's overwhelmed with loneliness. 97 00:06:00,120 --> 00:06:04,120 Speaker 1: And suddenly, this strong prophet he runs into the wilderness alone. 98 00:06:04,160 --> 00:06:07,479 Speaker 1: He sits down under a tree and he tells God, 99 00:06:07,760 --> 00:06:11,760 Speaker 1: I've had enough. Imagine that a man used powerfully by God, 100 00:06:11,920 --> 00:06:14,320 Speaker 1: saying I don't want to do this anymore. Can I 101 00:06:14,360 --> 00:06:20,640 Speaker 1: tell you what it comforts me? Because sometimes faithfulness feels exhausting. 102 00:06:21,160 --> 00:06:25,200 Speaker 1: You can love God deeply and still feel tired of 103 00:06:25,279 --> 00:06:29,480 Speaker 1: carrying pain. You can obey God and still feel disappointed. 104 00:06:29,880 --> 00:06:33,760 Speaker 1: You can pray sincerely and still feel alone. That's the 105 00:06:33,800 --> 00:06:37,600 Speaker 1: reality that Scripture teaches us through the story of Elijah. 106 00:06:37,640 --> 00:06:42,600 Speaker 1: But here's what amazes me. God doesn't lecture Elijah. He 107 00:06:42,640 --> 00:06:48,520 Speaker 1: doesn't say, oh, Elijah, come on, pray harder, or suck 108 00:06:48,600 --> 00:06:50,680 Speaker 1: it up the guy and just endure. That's what you're 109 00:06:50,720 --> 00:06:54,359 Speaker 1: supposed to do. He doesn't say, have more faith, be stronger. 110 00:06:55,000 --> 00:06:58,560 Speaker 1: You know what God does. God lets him sleep, then 111 00:06:59,120 --> 00:07:03,080 Speaker 1: he sends him food. He restores his body before correcting 112 00:07:03,120 --> 00:07:07,560 Speaker 1: his perspective. Sometimes the most spiritual thing God does is 113 00:07:07,720 --> 00:07:12,440 Speaker 1: give us rest because, and this is so key, exhaustion 114 00:07:13,280 --> 00:07:18,640 Speaker 1: lies to us. Physical exhaustion and emotional or spiritual exhaustion 115 00:07:19,360 --> 00:07:21,360 Speaker 1: they lie to us. I mean, think about it. The 116 00:07:21,520 --> 00:07:25,120 Speaker 1: last time you were just physically exhausted, I mean you 117 00:07:25,360 --> 00:07:27,760 Speaker 1: hadn't slept, you had terrible sleep. And some of you, 118 00:07:27,840 --> 00:07:30,400 Speaker 1: I know have young children, so you're up all night. 119 00:07:30,560 --> 00:07:32,280 Speaker 1: Or maybe if you don't have young children, you had 120 00:07:32,280 --> 00:07:35,120 Speaker 1: a sick child, or maybe you're on the other end 121 00:07:35,160 --> 00:07:38,160 Speaker 1: of the spectrum and you're up all night just because 122 00:07:38,160 --> 00:07:41,440 Speaker 1: you've got worries and concerns, or maybe you have a 123 00:07:41,520 --> 00:07:43,800 Speaker 1: spouse that snores, or you have to get up to 124 00:07:43,800 --> 00:07:45,800 Speaker 1: go pee one hundred times a night. I don't know, 125 00:07:45,920 --> 00:07:48,520 Speaker 1: but just think of the last time that you just 126 00:07:48,800 --> 00:07:53,600 Speaker 1: for days didn't get good sleep. How was your mental capacity, 127 00:07:53,880 --> 00:07:58,880 Speaker 1: How was your ability to handle frustration or stress? How 128 00:07:58,960 --> 00:08:02,560 Speaker 1: is your mental clarity? I mean all of that was affected, right, 129 00:08:03,000 --> 00:08:08,120 Speaker 1: So if physical exhaustion affects us, how much more do 130 00:08:08,200 --> 00:08:13,520 Speaker 1: you think spiritual and emotional and relational exhaustion exhaustus a 131 00:08:13,560 --> 00:08:17,760 Speaker 1: lot more? And I think sometimes we don't pause to 132 00:08:17,840 --> 00:08:22,440 Speaker 1: think how these things are really affecting us, but they are. See, 133 00:08:22,480 --> 00:08:27,880 Speaker 1: exhaustion tells us nothing will change, nobody cares. God forgot me. 134 00:08:28,200 --> 00:08:32,600 Speaker 1: But exhaustion isn't truth. It's depletion. And some of you 135 00:08:32,840 --> 00:08:37,959 Speaker 1: listening right now aren't faithless. You're just tired. So let's 136 00:08:38,000 --> 00:08:42,600 Speaker 1: tuckle honestly here, because when hardship and heaviness hits us, 137 00:08:43,080 --> 00:08:46,800 Speaker 1: it just naturally makes us want out right, I mean, 138 00:08:46,960 --> 00:08:52,640 Speaker 1: disappointment and discouragement hardness and heaviness. They change people, usually 139 00:08:52,640 --> 00:08:55,640 Speaker 1: because we long for some kind of relief from our pain, 140 00:08:56,120 --> 00:08:59,600 Speaker 1: and this relief may mean that we want distance from people. 141 00:08:59,800 --> 00:09:03,200 Speaker 1: But here's what I've come to learn. Sometimes we don't 142 00:09:03,240 --> 00:09:08,040 Speaker 1: just want distance from people. We want distance from vulnerability itself. 143 00:09:08,240 --> 00:09:10,360 Speaker 1: I want to say that again because you might want 144 00:09:10,400 --> 00:09:14,880 Speaker 1: to think about this. We want distance from vulnerability itself. 145 00:09:15,240 --> 00:09:22,200 Speaker 1: Why Because vulnerability makes us susceptible to get hurt, and 146 00:09:22,240 --> 00:09:24,400 Speaker 1: we don't want to be hurt. We just want to 147 00:09:24,400 --> 00:09:27,600 Speaker 1: feel good. That's why this is complicated, but it's also 148 00:09:27,679 --> 00:09:30,440 Speaker 1: why God really can meet us in the space if 149 00:09:30,440 --> 00:09:34,199 Speaker 1: we're honest about it. So if we're trying to avoid pain, 150 00:09:34,480 --> 00:09:37,119 Speaker 1: and so by it trying to avoid pain and heaviness, 151 00:09:37,400 --> 00:09:41,319 Speaker 1: then we avoid vulnerability. What ends up happening is that 152 00:09:41,360 --> 00:09:45,880 Speaker 1: we choose comfort over commitment because comfort always feels good, 153 00:09:46,120 --> 00:09:50,280 Speaker 1: but commitment means exposing ourselves to the range of human emotions, 154 00:09:50,440 --> 00:09:54,319 Speaker 1: even the hard ones. Closing our heart protects us from pain, 155 00:09:54,679 --> 00:09:59,280 Speaker 1: but it also blocks healing. Commitment over comfort means choosing 156 00:09:59,360 --> 00:10:03,560 Speaker 1: who we want become after the pain, and this is 157 00:10:03,600 --> 00:10:06,120 Speaker 1: where endurance comes in. Now. I've been thinking a lot 158 00:10:06,120 --> 00:10:09,520 Speaker 1: about this mostly because just with some things that are 159 00:10:09,520 --> 00:10:11,440 Speaker 1: going on in my life, I've had to endure. I've 160 00:10:11,440 --> 00:10:15,440 Speaker 1: had to just learn, Okay, what is endurance? And I'm 161 00:10:15,480 --> 00:10:19,479 Speaker 1: telling you, I am learning so much about its value. 162 00:10:19,559 --> 00:10:23,280 Speaker 1: I feel like God is teaching me things, expanding my 163 00:10:23,400 --> 00:10:27,520 Speaker 1: view of Him, opening my eyes to my own self 164 00:10:27,559 --> 00:10:31,960 Speaker 1: in ways that are literally blowing my mind. I'm loving it. 165 00:10:32,000 --> 00:10:35,640 Speaker 1: But it's also super hard because endurance is hard. And 166 00:10:35,840 --> 00:10:38,280 Speaker 1: as I just mentioned, as a culture, we're not big 167 00:10:38,320 --> 00:10:42,560 Speaker 1: on endurance. I mean, we'd rather bow out than stay in. 168 00:10:43,080 --> 00:10:47,000 Speaker 1: We'd rather feel comfortable than deal with a challenge. We 169 00:10:47,080 --> 00:10:49,240 Speaker 1: want to avoid pain rather than press through it. I 170 00:10:49,280 --> 00:10:51,680 Speaker 1: mean all of us do. That's just human nature, right. 171 00:10:51,920 --> 00:10:56,120 Speaker 1: But this is also why the divorce rate is sky high. 172 00:10:56,160 --> 00:10:58,960 Speaker 1: It's why people change churches as often as they change socks. 173 00:10:59,120 --> 00:11:03,960 Speaker 1: It's why French and over childless squabbles, and it's why 174 00:11:04,040 --> 00:11:08,680 Speaker 1: American Christians stay stuck in our spiritual and emotional immaturity. 175 00:11:09,000 --> 00:11:11,680 Speaker 1: Now listen, because this is something that I've been thinking about, 176 00:11:11,840 --> 00:11:14,840 Speaker 1: and it's going to sound hardcore, but know that it 177 00:11:14,840 --> 00:11:17,720 Speaker 1: comes from a really deep and good place in my life. 178 00:11:17,880 --> 00:11:20,679 Speaker 1: The Bible says that those who endure to the end 179 00:11:20,760 --> 00:11:26,120 Speaker 1: will be saved. So endurance is necessary for the mature 180 00:11:26,200 --> 00:11:28,800 Speaker 1: Christian life. All right, you follow me. But if we 181 00:11:28,840 --> 00:11:32,880 Speaker 1: can't endure over like the simple inconveniences of life, and 182 00:11:32,920 --> 00:11:37,520 Speaker 1: we choose comfort over commitment, how on earth are we 183 00:11:37,800 --> 00:11:43,400 Speaker 1: going to endure when real persecution comes to the church 184 00:11:43,679 --> 00:11:46,200 Speaker 1: right before Christ returns. I mean, how are we going 185 00:11:46,280 --> 00:11:48,440 Speaker 1: to endure to the end. We got to learn to 186 00:11:48,559 --> 00:11:50,160 Speaker 1: endure on the little things so that we're going to 187 00:11:50,200 --> 00:11:53,240 Speaker 1: be prepared to endure on the big things. Now. I 188 00:11:53,280 --> 00:11:55,400 Speaker 1: know what I just said probably makes you go, oh, 189 00:11:55,480 --> 00:11:57,520 Speaker 1: if you're talking about the tribulation, No, we're not talking 190 00:11:57,559 --> 00:11:59,560 Speaker 1: about that today. We'll talk about that another time. But 191 00:12:00,080 --> 00:12:02,679 Speaker 1: the point I'm trying to make is this is a 192 00:12:02,720 --> 00:12:05,920 Speaker 1: sign of spiritual maturity. And if you and I want 193 00:12:05,920 --> 00:12:07,599 Speaker 1: to be spiritual mature, we got to learn this. We 194 00:12:07,679 --> 00:12:09,480 Speaker 1: got to learn how to develop it. And it's all 195 00:12:09,520 --> 00:12:12,760 Speaker 1: over the Bible. Romans three and four says we rejoice 196 00:12:12,760 --> 00:12:17,000 Speaker 1: in our sufferings, knowing that our suffering produces guess what 197 00:12:17,400 --> 00:12:23,720 Speaker 1: endurance and endurance produces Guess what character and character produces hope. 198 00:12:24,120 --> 00:12:27,760 Speaker 1: In Hebrews ten thirty six, it says patient endurance is 199 00:12:27,800 --> 00:12:30,160 Speaker 1: what you need now so that you will continue to 200 00:12:30,200 --> 00:12:33,920 Speaker 1: do God's will. Then you will receive all that he promised. 201 00:12:34,559 --> 00:12:38,000 Speaker 1: There it is again patient endurance. Hebrews twelve to one says, 202 00:12:38,320 --> 00:12:41,760 Speaker 1: let us run with endurance the race that is set 203 00:12:41,800 --> 00:12:45,040 Speaker 1: before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus. Or to run 204 00:12:45,200 --> 00:12:49,080 Speaker 1: with endurance, we need patient endurance. God wants to develop 205 00:12:49,320 --> 00:12:53,240 Speaker 1: endurance in us because this is where character is built. 206 00:12:53,600 --> 00:12:57,960 Speaker 1: But endurance doesn't come easy, right. Endurance is hard. When 207 00:12:57,960 --> 00:13:01,840 Speaker 1: I think of endurance, my mind hope he goes to running. 208 00:13:02,080 --> 00:13:04,360 Speaker 1: Right now, my daughter in law is training for a 209 00:13:04,440 --> 00:13:06,240 Speaker 1: half marathon that she's going to be running in a 210 00:13:06,280 --> 00:13:09,920 Speaker 1: few weeks. Now, why is she training rather than just 211 00:13:10,000 --> 00:13:12,920 Speaker 1: showing up on the day of the race and just 212 00:13:13,040 --> 00:13:15,440 Speaker 1: running well? Because if she does that, she's not gonna 213 00:13:15,440 --> 00:13:17,600 Speaker 1: be able to finish it. She has to train. What 214 00:13:17,720 --> 00:13:21,240 Speaker 1: she's doing is every day she's training her body to 215 00:13:21,640 --> 00:13:26,520 Speaker 1: endure just a little bit more. And that is how 216 00:13:26,760 --> 00:13:30,600 Speaker 1: we train ourselves in endurance the same way. I mean, 217 00:13:30,720 --> 00:13:33,959 Speaker 1: we train ourselves to endure for the big things by 218 00:13:34,040 --> 00:13:37,880 Speaker 1: learning to endure the small things. That's why nothing in 219 00:13:37,960 --> 00:13:41,560 Speaker 1: our life is insignificant. In our spiritual journey. I mean, 220 00:13:41,559 --> 00:13:44,880 Speaker 1: God uses all of it. This is the definition of endurance. 221 00:13:45,280 --> 00:13:49,720 Speaker 1: Endurance is the ability to withstand there or persist through 222 00:13:49,720 --> 00:13:55,600 Speaker 1: difficult physical, mental, or emotional situations over a prolonged period 223 00:13:55,640 --> 00:13:58,760 Speaker 1: of time. And as I mentioned, endurance is mentioned over 224 00:13:58,960 --> 00:14:03,000 Speaker 1: and over in the scriptures. Even Jesus endured. We're told 225 00:14:03,120 --> 00:14:08,280 Speaker 1: in Hebrews twelve to consider him who endured the cross, 226 00:14:08,800 --> 00:14:12,480 Speaker 1: why so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. 227 00:14:12,920 --> 00:14:15,040 Speaker 1: I mean, the way we learn to adure, the way 228 00:14:15,200 --> 00:14:18,120 Speaker 1: we don't grow weary and lose heart and just check 229 00:14:18,160 --> 00:14:20,880 Speaker 1: out and give up, is that we consider that Jesus 230 00:14:20,920 --> 00:14:24,800 Speaker 1: himself endured. But if you've been a Christian for longer 231 00:14:24,840 --> 00:14:27,520 Speaker 1: than two minutes, you know you should endure. I mean 232 00:14:27,640 --> 00:14:31,320 Speaker 1: I know I should endure. But here's something very few 233 00:14:31,440 --> 00:14:38,320 Speaker 1: people have the guts to admit out loud. Endurance is hard, right, 234 00:14:38,440 --> 00:14:42,000 Speaker 1: It just is right. Endurance is hard. I mean, getsemany 235 00:14:42,240 --> 00:14:45,400 Speaker 1: was no picnic in the park for Jesus. And though 236 00:14:45,520 --> 00:14:49,880 Speaker 1: we will never have to endure to that extent, still 237 00:14:50,240 --> 00:14:54,000 Speaker 1: the principle remains the same. Endurance is hard. So whether 238 00:14:54,040 --> 00:14:58,160 Speaker 1: we're talking about small steps of endurance like just showing 239 00:14:58,280 --> 00:15:02,640 Speaker 1: up every day, to feed your family, card pull your kids, 240 00:15:02,800 --> 00:15:06,560 Speaker 1: help with homework, read that bedtime story for the ten 241 00:15:06,640 --> 00:15:12,000 Speaker 1: thousand time. Or we're talking about monumental things like enduring 242 00:15:12,400 --> 00:15:19,320 Speaker 1: prolonged sickness, or enduring grief or disappointment or discouragement, loneliness 243 00:15:19,480 --> 00:15:23,720 Speaker 1: or betrayal. Endurance is an act of the will to 244 00:15:23,880 --> 00:15:28,160 Speaker 1: override our emotions. It's laying aside short term pleasure for 245 00:15:28,320 --> 00:15:32,480 Speaker 1: long term satisfaction. Emotion says I want to feel good. 246 00:15:32,880 --> 00:15:37,280 Speaker 1: Endurance says I want something that's truly good, and I'm 247 00:15:37,360 --> 00:15:40,680 Speaker 1: willing to stick with something or someone when it gets 248 00:15:40,720 --> 00:15:42,920 Speaker 1: hard to get to the price to the end. And 249 00:15:43,200 --> 00:15:47,800 Speaker 1: here's how we develop endurance. We simply put one foot 250 00:15:47,840 --> 00:15:51,440 Speaker 1: in front of the other, moment by moment, day after day. 251 00:15:51,760 --> 00:15:56,440 Speaker 1: So that thing you want to quit because just dang hard, don't. 252 00:15:57,160 --> 00:16:04,680 Speaker 1: Instead learn something valuable Biblical learn endurance. But here's the 253 00:16:04,720 --> 00:16:10,520 Speaker 1: beautiful part. We don't endure on our own. You don't 254 00:16:10,640 --> 00:16:14,880 Speaker 1: endure on your own. God helps us endure. Now you 255 00:16:14,960 --> 00:16:18,040 Speaker 1: might ask, okay, well, how well we can see him 256 00:16:18,120 --> 00:16:21,040 Speaker 1: reaching out his hand to help us if we pause 257 00:16:21,280 --> 00:16:24,520 Speaker 1: long enough to look for it. Because God rarely interrupts loudly. 258 00:16:24,840 --> 00:16:29,280 Speaker 1: Sometimes his interruptions, his reaching out to help us. Endure 259 00:16:29,520 --> 00:16:32,680 Speaker 1: looks like a verse you didn't plan to read, a 260 00:16:32,720 --> 00:16:37,440 Speaker 1: conversation that feels too timely, a text that you get 261 00:16:37,480 --> 00:16:41,440 Speaker 1: from a friend at just the right time, a worship 262 00:16:41,520 --> 00:16:46,760 Speaker 1: song that makes you cry unexpectedly, or peace showing up 263 00:16:46,960 --> 00:16:50,320 Speaker 1: when anger felt more logical. That's what happened to Elijah. 264 00:16:50,320 --> 00:16:53,040 Speaker 1: By the way, God didn't meet him in a fire. 265 00:16:53,600 --> 00:16:56,600 Speaker 1: I mean, there was a fire, but God said, I'm 266 00:16:56,640 --> 00:16:59,360 Speaker 1: not in the fire. God didn't meet him in the chaos. 267 00:16:59,440 --> 00:17:02,080 Speaker 1: There was an earthquake, but God said, I'm not in 268 00:17:02,400 --> 00:17:06,159 Speaker 1: the earthquake. You know where God met Elijah in a whisper. 269 00:17:06,640 --> 00:17:12,960 Speaker 1: Sometimes God interrupts are quitting quietly because he knows your 270 00:17:13,000 --> 00:17:15,640 Speaker 1: heart is fragile. Can I tell you something. If you're 271 00:17:15,800 --> 00:17:20,520 Speaker 1: listening right now, you didn't quit. You're still here, You're 272 00:17:20,560 --> 00:17:24,560 Speaker 1: still trying, You're still searching for hope. That means something 273 00:17:24,640 --> 00:17:28,119 Speaker 1: inside you still believes God is working even if you 274 00:17:28,160 --> 00:17:31,960 Speaker 1: don't feel strong. Endurance doesn't always look heroic. In fact, 275 00:17:32,119 --> 00:17:37,359 Speaker 1: oftentimes it looks like anything but heroic. Sometimes endurance looks 276 00:17:37,480 --> 00:17:39,520 Speaker 1: like just getting out of bed in the morning and 277 00:17:39,520 --> 00:17:43,159 Speaker 1: brushing your teeth, or working through a hurtful issue, or 278 00:17:43,840 --> 00:17:47,760 Speaker 1: helping a frustrating family member, or going to work, or 279 00:17:47,800 --> 00:17:51,800 Speaker 1: praying two honest sentences instead of a long prayer, or 280 00:17:51,920 --> 00:17:56,879 Speaker 1: choosing kindness when bitterness feels easier. God sees quiet commitment. 281 00:17:57,280 --> 00:18:02,040 Speaker 1: He sees those acts of endurance, things like these seemingly 282 00:18:02,480 --> 00:18:06,520 Speaker 1: simple things. It's where we choose commitment over comfort because 283 00:18:06,560 --> 00:18:10,640 Speaker 1: you see comfort says leave before you get hurt again, detach, 284 00:18:11,560 --> 00:18:16,960 Speaker 1: stop caring, but calling says heal, grow, trust me again. 285 00:18:17,359 --> 00:18:21,960 Speaker 1: Commitment is showing up even when feelings fluctuate. It's choosing 286 00:18:22,040 --> 00:18:27,040 Speaker 1: obedience when emotions vote. Know and sometimes God interrupts our 287 00:18:27,160 --> 00:18:30,320 Speaker 1: escape because he knows what's waiting on the other side 288 00:18:30,359 --> 00:18:34,600 Speaker 1: of endurance, not just blessing, but transformation. So if you 289 00:18:34,720 --> 00:18:39,840 Speaker 1: almost walked away recently from faith, from hope, from yourself, 290 00:18:40,119 --> 00:18:43,080 Speaker 1: from a person, I want you to hear this. God 291 00:18:43,160 --> 00:18:46,760 Speaker 1: didn't abandon Elijah at his lowest, and he hasn't abandoned 292 00:18:46,840 --> 00:18:51,600 Speaker 1: you either. You may feel hidden, you may feel confused, 293 00:18:52,520 --> 00:18:58,200 Speaker 1: you may feel exhausted, but interruption is mercy. God stepping 294 00:18:58,240 --> 00:19:01,479 Speaker 1: into your quitting moment is proof he still has a 295 00:19:01,520 --> 00:19:05,000 Speaker 1: plan for your life. So today, rest if you need 296 00:19:05,040 --> 00:19:09,200 Speaker 1: to cry, if you need to be honest with God, 297 00:19:09,960 --> 00:19:15,080 Speaker 1: but don't walk away, because sometimes the breakthrough comes right 298 00:19:15,200 --> 00:19:19,959 Speaker 1: after the moment you almost left. Well, friend, if today 299 00:19:20,000 --> 00:19:23,159 Speaker 1: feels exactly like what you needed, made me share it 300 00:19:23,200 --> 00:19:25,800 Speaker 1: with another woman who almost gave up this week too, 301 00:19:26,040 --> 00:19:28,800 Speaker 1: And if we haven't connected on social media, let's do that. 302 00:19:29,000 --> 00:19:32,040 Speaker 1: You'll find me on Instagram at Donna A. Jones. And 303 00:19:32,119 --> 00:19:34,879 Speaker 1: don't forget to leave a review of this podcast for 304 00:19:35,040 --> 00:19:37,960 Speaker 1: your chance to win the Book of Verse a Day 305 00:19:38,040 --> 00:19:41,480 Speaker 1: for the Anxious Soul. And as always, my friend, I 306 00:19:41,560 --> 00:19:44,479 Speaker 1: can't wait to see you next time, for that's just 307 00:19:44,800 --> 00:19:45,480 Speaker 1: what I needed.