January 27, 2026, the 27th day of 2026
Rejoicing While Enduring
Enduring is not a pleasant thing. We don't have to endure happy times, we endure hard times.... View MoreJanuary 27, 2026, the 27th day of 2026
Rejoicing While Enduring
Enduring is not a pleasant thing. We don't have to endure happy times, we endure hard times.
"Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you."
I Thessalonians 5:16-18
These verses especially apply when we are facing hard times. Rejoicing isn't hard when things are easy. Rejoicing is hard when things get hard, when we need to keep going, when we need to endure.
We often pray more in hard times, but when God tells us to endure, instead of bringing those hard times to an end, that can be pretty rough.
Thanksgiving is easy when things are going well, but harder when they are not. Still, God expects us to be thankful, even in the midst of hard times, even when He says to keep enduring.
A Christian's life is filled with ups and downs. But through all of it, Jesus is on our side. He will help us and see us through it all.
Jesus also warns that the life of His followers require endurance.
"And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold. But he who endures to the end shall be saved."
Matthew 24:12-13
Overcoming is a part of enduring.
"He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life; but I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels. 'He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.' ”
Revelation 3:5-6
Enduring is not just surviving. It is thriving. We need to live fully in hard times, to enjoy life, even when things are hard.
We need to focus on being grateful for the good we have, the blessings and not just focus on the hard things.
We need to make times to have fun, to fellowship, to be an inspiration to others struggling.
"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, Who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God."
II Corinthians 1:3-4
Focusing on hard things has a tendency to make us hard and bitter. God does not want us to be either.
Hard times, tribulation, struggles, trials and testings all require us to strive to do our best, not to surrender to despair.
"In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ, Whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, receiving the end of your faith—the salvation of your souls.
I Peter 1:6-9
There are also times that God disciplines us. We need to learn from those times as well.
When we are going through hard times we need to trust in God, not to give into doubt. We need to stand, not collapse. We need to look to the days beyond the trials, while living faithfully through them.
"Now no discipline seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it."
Hebrews 12:11
Trusting in God through all makes all the difference.
"Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through Whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope. Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit Who was given to us.
Romans 5:1-5
Growing stronger through tribulation comes from trust in God, with endurance mingled with rejoicing and thanksgiving through the good and the bad.
Prayer helps to keep us rooted in the will of God when we look to Him and depend on Him to lead us.
Stay strong! While you endure, make sure that you also live a full life.
NAN
