I took a walk with Jesus about a week ago. Just Him and me walking down a golf cart path in my neighborhood. I was frustrated. I had started something several weeks prior and I felt so unsettled. I felt like throwing in the towel and I needed that time with Him to help me sort out things in my head. So there I was walking and He whispers “you give up too easy.” Wait, what? “You give up too easy.” Well, okay. Of course this got me to thinking, and you know what, I do. I started thinking back to activities that I did when I was a kid, I would start and as soon as it got difficult I would quit. Even with friendships, the closer I got to a friend the more I would pull away. I was scared. I wanted to avoid being vulnerable and letting people in because I didn’t want them to realize that maybe I wasn’t worth it and walk away. Workout programs, diets, even some school subjects, the minute they got hard, I was done. Opportunities I had to share my faith and I bailed, because even that can be hard sometimes. I had no endurance. I wasn’t thinking about the big picture, like what would happen if I stuck it out and pushed through the hard stuff. I would have accomplished so much. Pushing through the hard stuff is what leads to the good stuff. Could you imagine Jesus just throwing in the towel the minute he started getting beaten? Like, “nah God, I’m out, this hurts. I hope you have a plan B.” Oh, how our lives would be so different if He wouldn’t have had such strong endurance to push through the pain.

I don’t know who needs to hear this, but don’t give up. Our lives are going to be hard and messy. That’s what builds endurance. We’re going to have to walk through thunderstorms to get to the sunshine and rainbows. Just make sure Jesus is there walking with you, holding the umbrella. Hebrews 12:1-2 “…Let us run with endurance the race that lies before us, keeping our eyes on Jesus, the source and perfecter of our faith. For the joy that lay before him he endured the cross, despising shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”

Let’s not miss out on all the good that Jesus has for us or for all of the hearts that we can lead to Jesus. Lets move forward with faith and endurance.