How Do You Harness the Power of Joyful Endurance?

Are you going through any trials right now? Do you wonder how you will have the strength to keep going? I have something special to share with you today. It strengthens me to endure debilitating pain and cancer. Read on to be equipped to persevere through anything you face.

Get ready to receive strength, hope, and joy!

“...being strengthened with all power according to His glorious might so that you may have full endurance and patience, joyfully giving thanks to the Father.” Colossians 1:11-12

This is a powerful verse for those who suffer.

Paul prays that the Colossians will be strengthened, or empowered, with the same power that the Lord gave to strengthen him in his weakness. It is the same power that came out of Jesus when he healed a woman afflicted by illness The Greek word is dunamis. It is supernatural, miraculous power from God that works in us, and it is available to everyone who has received Jesus.

“...being strengthened with all power according to His glorious might...”

God has authority over our health issues. His might implies dominion that extends itself into a mighty deed. Sometimes God works a mighty deed through miraculous healing. But God also performs a mighty deed when He equips us with power to endure illness! He does it “so that you may have full endurance.”

The Greek word for endurance in this passage is hupomoné, and its meaning cannot be entirely captured in the word endurance. It is a steadfast and patient persistence in waiting as you bear up under suffering. What are you waiting for while you suffer? Are you impatiently waiting to be free from it? Or are you looking ahead with steadfast hope? Hope equips us to patiently endure suffering.

I have endured many years with chronic pain and cancer because I know that, whether on earth or in heaven, one day I will be completely healed. Assured hope gives me perspective that enables me to wait patiently for healing.

Patience has equipping power.

“...being strengthened with all power...so that you may have... patience...”

Wait. What? God’s power strengthens us to have patience? What a beautiful discovery. Patience, in the original Greek, is makrothumia. (You knew we would have another Greek lesson, right?) Have you ever said, “I should never pray for patience because God will give me a challenge!” Friends. I am here to tell you that you need this gift. Pray for patience! You will have challenges anyway, but this kind of patience will help you to endure them. Patience is not merely a calm demeanor. It is a source of strength.

Makrothumia, or patience, means:

Fortitude: strength of mind that enables a person to encounter danger or bear pain or adversity with courage.1

Could you use some of that? I certainly can! Do not be afraid to pray for it. We all need it.

Patience during our trials, pain, and suffering equips us to bear them. But we must also be patient with the Lord as he uses these tools to refine us. Can you be patient with the refinement process? It will be worth it, oh so worth it, in the end.

Today’s message is lengthy. Bear with me a little longer. I have more to unpack in this verse! It will bless you.

“May you be filled with joy, always thanking the Father.”

Thanking the Lord and rejoicing in the Lord will always fill you with joy. Always. It is a difficult discipline to practice when we are in pain, but that is when we need joy the most because:

“The joy of the Lord is your strength” (Nehemiah 8:10). Do you need strength? Strengthen yourself in the Lord with the joy that comes through praise and thanksgiving.

Lean into thanksgiving this week. Fill your home with Gospel or praise music. Sing out loud. Dance if you can! Thank the Lord throughout the day ... for your family, for your neighbors, for the smell of coffee, for the beautiful sweetness of a strawberry ... for anything and everything that you encounter. Thank God for every gift and blessing you notice when you read your Bible.

Imagine that you start each day with an allotment of praise and thanksgiving. Try to use it up! The day will end before you use it all. But you will end the day with the calming comfort of joy.

Comment below and let me know what God impressed upon you through this study of Colossians 1:11-12. Tell me how you plan to use up your allotment of praise this week! I cannot wait to read and respond to your comments.

Blessings and Joy,
Andrea

Biblical references: Corinthians 12:9 and Mark 5:30

1 “Fortitude.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fortitude. Accessed 27 Jul. 2021.