Keep your mind on Jesus [and]… you won’t get discouraged and give up (Hebrews 12:3< CEV)

It’s difficult to endure hardship at the best of times, but when you don’t know why, it can be frustrating. God doesn’t give us lengthy explanations on how He works; He’s used to creating worlds with a single sentence. So when you don’t find an immediate answer in His Word or through prayer or the counsel of others, you’re left wondering. And you wouldn’t be the first. David repeatedly asks why in the Psalms, and God still called him “a man after My own heart, who will do all My will” (Acts 13:22 NKJV). So don’t get discouraged. Bible commentator William Barclay pointed out that endurance isn’t just the ability to bear a hard thing, but to use it for your growth and God’s glory.

When the answers aren’t forthcoming the question then becomes, “How do I get through this?” And the Bible addresses it by telling us Jesus endured “the shame of being nailed to a cross, because he knew… later on he would be glad” (Hebrews 12:2 CEV). Then it goes on to say: “Keep your mind on Jesus… you won’t get discouraged and give up” (Hebrews 12:3 CEV). The reason Jesus endured was because He was able to look ahead and envision the joy of pleasing His Father, building the church and saving a lost world.

The Psalmist said, “I have set the Lord always before me… he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved [discouraged, or thrown by the situation]” (Psalm 16:8 NKJV). Staying-power is not denying reality, or ‘white-knuckling’ it. It’s keeping your eyes on Jesus and drawing from Him the strength you need to fight your way through to victory!

Let nothing be done through strife…
Philippians 2:3
Strife is defined as ‘conflict… struggle… rivalry,’ and God’s Word says to avoid it at all cost: ‘Let nothing be done through strife… but in lowliness of mind let each esteem [the] other better than themselves.’ Strife is custom-designed to play havoc in marriages, churches, businesses and relationships. It stems from our self-centered ego and leads to comparing, competing and condemning. The Word of God says: ‘Where envying and strife is, there is… every evil work’ (James 3:16). Keeping strife out of your life means recognising and uprooting it before it grows; ‘See… no root of bitterness springing up, causes trouble, and… many be defiled’ (Hebrews 12:15 NAS). And Paul adds, ‘… Complete my joy by living in harmony… being of the same mind… having the same love… ‘ (Philippians 2:2 AMP). Enjoying God’s blessings requires doing all we can to live in harmony with one another. Is that easy to do? No, but the sooner you learn it, the better things will be.

When David saw Goliath he didn’t stop to consider the odds or listen to the opinions of others. Instead, he ‘… ran quickly toward the battle… to meet him’ (1Samuel 17:48 NIV). Rapid response is required here. When God prompts you to turn the other cheek or take the short end of the stick, draw on His grace and do it. In fact, when you do it on your timetable you end up doing it in your own strength. So: a) forgive those who hurt you b) pray for them c) bless them by speaking well of them and wanting only good things for them. Your commitment to walk each day in love and forgiveness (yes, it’s a daily commitment!) will open the door to God’s blessing in your life.