Lenten Word 30: Endurance

"I think I can, I think I can" leads us to that point where it changes to "I know I can I know I can," and finally to "I knew I could, I knew I could." For the believer that refrain is made easier if we add "With God's Help...." God is part of the solution towards our endurance in all things especially a time of fasting and reflection. Many who have given up things, especially foods, have already given up. Some endure to the very end only with God's help. They think on what they are receiving by having given up these things, not on what misery they are in for having abandoned precious things, like chocolate.

Paul says in his letter to the Romans, "More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope." (5:3-4). During our Lenten Journey our faithfulness to the very end will produce endurance and as Paul adds, and our endurance will produce character and character hope.

Never give up. Never. Never. Never. Words attributed to Winston Churchill during the Siege of London by the Nazis, to the people of London. Those words apply to all who seek to endure.

May it be so.

PRAYER: Lord, only with your help can I endure. This is my prayer asking that Your strength be mine so that as I seek to know You more I can know my limitations and Your greatness. This I pray in Christ Jesus, amen.