In his first letter to Timothy, Paul gives a vital instruction: “as for you, …pursue… endurance”. (1 Timothy 6:11 NRSV) But how do we do this? We want to bring God glory, but how is it possible to endure while facing trials or persecution? Hebrews 12:2-3 provides the answer:
Looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted.
Jesus has already endured the greatest suffering that could ever be experienced. Wanting to please his Father, and keeping eternity in view, he was able to endure the cross and bring salvation to us. It’s so easy to get distracted by temporal things, but we can make deliberate choices about how we spend our time. We are learning from him as we read the scriptures and reflect on his life, words and actions. Thankfully this isn’t fixing our eyes on a person in the distance, or studying someone we don’t know personally; we can experience a closeness with the Lord when we respond to his invitation in Matthew 11: “Come to me… take my yoke… learn from me”.
The hymn ‘What a friend we have in Jesus’ causes us to ponder what to do in difficult days: ‘Have we trials and temptations? Is there trouble anywhere? Do thy friends despise, forsake thee?’ What a wonderful response is provided after all these upsetting questions: ‘Take it to the Lord in prayer.’ No wonder 1 Peter 4:19 advises: “Let those who suffer according to the will of God commit their souls to him in doing good, as to a faithful Creator”. Our Saviour understands, and we can trust him.
I love the words of Annie Johnson Flint:
He giveth more grace when the burdens grow greater,
He Giveth More Grace, Annie Johnson Flint
He sendeth more strength when the labours increase;
To added afflictions he addeth his mercy,
To multiplied trials, his multiplied peace.
When we have exhausted our store of endurance,
When our strength has failed [before] the day is half done,
When we reach the end of our hoarded resources,
Our Father’s full giving is only begun.
Fear not that thy need shall exceed his provision,
Our God ever yearns his resources to share;
Lean hard on the arm everlasting, availing;
The Father both thee and thy load will upbear.
Psalm 16:8 reveals the secret of those who successfully endure: “I have set the LORD always before me; because he is at my right hand I shall not be moved”.
Norma Aitken, the Church of God in Glasgow
Annie Johnson Flint endured much suffering in her life and her hymns and poems flowed out of personal experience of God. That’s why they speak to our hearts. Jesus is qualified to minister to our needs when we go through suffering as he, as a human being, has also endured the cross. His suffering was unique, and, God’s love, immeasurable. A book of Annie’s poems has been published by Martin Jones. Well worth obtaining a copy as a present for someone
this Christmas!.