Have you ever seen the "Little House on the Prairie" episode where Laura befriends a new girl at school who has one leg shorter than the other? The family (of foreign decent) moves to Walnut Grove to find a new life and new beginning, hoping that the daughter will not fall under ridicule as she had in the past. Of course the evil nemesis, Nellie Olson, is there to make sure that the girl is poked fun at and continually insists on playing games that the new girl cannot possibly play.
When Charles Ingalls sees the little girl having trouble running, Laura tells him that she has seen the girl able to walk well when she walks on a plank on the way home from school. This gives Charles the idea of building up a shoe for the little girl that would enable her to walk normally. Eventually he is able to get one of the girl's shoes from her Grandmother and makes her one! It's a cool story.
I was reminded of that story yesterday as we went to see Grandma Shipps. She's got a new "built up" shoe that allows her to walk better. She's had her right hip replaced and broken her left leg in 2 places in her 96 years of life. For at least the past 2 years (since her fall that ultimately lead to her moving to the Plaza) she has endured a leg that has been at least an inch shorter than the other! Now she is able to get around much better and she's pretty quick for being a month shy of 97!
The idea of endurance was muddling around in my thoughts this morning as I awoke to spend time with the Lord.
Sometimes we need to be "built up" by the Spirit of God in order to walk in endurance, strength, and power... just like Grandma's shoe!
Endure: to withstand; to put up with; to bear or carry
Thinking of Grandma Shipps (in regard to endurance), it's almost impossible to convey to you all the things that she's had to endure in her lifetime. She's lost 2 husbands, seen almost a century of changes in the world we live in, battled health issues, faced Wars that most of us only have read about in History books, experienced technology booms and new inventions... the list goes on and on. One thing about her, though, is that still at 97... she trusts in the Lord. Many of us are faced with things that can almost seem impossible for us to bear... yet we do. Why? I think it's because of the Lord. We often hear it said... 'I don't know how I would have made it through _____________, without the Lord. " How to people who do not know Him endure?
People like Grandma Shipps also remind me that no matter what we go through that we think is so awful, there is always someone out there that has had to endure much worse. Think of the first century church and the persecution they have endured, the holocaust, the persecution of Christians in many countries in present times... people like Joni Erickson -Tada or Corey Ten Boom, Dave Roever, or guitarist Tony Melendez? Yeah, it makes what we face seem small. That's why we need a God-perspective! Our perspective can be a little askew when it's our endurance we're talking about. When we go through trial or a moment of weakness... to US the problem is as significantly insurmountable as trying to walk across the Atlantic Ocean! To US, it's not a small matter.
James 5:11 says, "Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy."
1 Corinthians 10:13 says,"...God is faithful... He will not give you... more than you are able to endure." The verse also eludes to the fact that HE will make a way of escape for you!
For people who have had to endure much in their lifetime, the words of James still ring true:
1. Our trials of faith will produce patience.
2. Patience will work in us to perfect our weaknesses.
3. God will supply the wisdom we need to know how to deal with situations as they arise.
4. Blessing will follow the person who endures.
Through my own experiences and observations, I can attest that once we get over the "shock" of our situation (that is of course realizing that we are in trauma at the moment)and take time to absorb the reality of the situation (with the help of the Holy Spirit), then we can release it to God and allow Him to work. People who have gone through great tests of endurance have learned to not react with "knee jerk reactions" and end up being more wise and patient.
I know many of my friends who are facing tests of endurance at the moment; my own family is even facing endurance issues. Let's all remember today that God is greater than anything we are facing. And, no matter what we face, it is ALWAYS a temporary situation! Do we really believe that? Can we put it into practice???
Lost your job or wondering how you'll make ends meet? His love endures forever!
Can't seem to get pregnant no matter how hard you try or pray? His love endures forever!
Fighting cancer or terminal illness? His love endures forever!
Facing divorce? His love endures forever!
Had a recent death of a loved one? His love endures forever!
Going bankrupt? His love endures forever!
Waiting for a spouse to return from war? His love endures forever!
Single parent? His love endures forever!
Battling addiction? His love endures forever!
Grieving, depressed, or overcome with sorrow? His love endures forever!
Physical infirmities or handicap? His love endures forever!
Lacking direction for life or wisdom in a situation? His love endures forever!
There is nothing that you face that He will not give you the ability and capability to endure today. Remember that God is faithful to His word. Lamentations 3:22-25 reminds us so beautifully, "It is of the LORD'S mercies that we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness. The LORD is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in Him. The LORD is good unto them that wait for Him, to the soul that seeketh Him."
Blessings to you today, friend, and may the endurance of the Lord strengthen you and build you up.
