During my national youth service that year, one of the major highlights of the camping period was the endurance trek. I had heard a lot about it. While some people tried to boycott the endurance trek, I jumped at the opportunity. I figured the experience might teach me a lesson about endurance in life. It actually did.

Friend, endurance is that ability (or capacity) that you have to go the long haul despite the challenges that the devil or life throws at you. The truth is, life will throw stuff at you. The devil will not give up on you easily. Life’s challenges have really hit hard on a lot of people.

Your capacity to endure will determine if you would outlast the devil and wear him out (Daniel 11:31-32). It is interesting to know that capacity for endurance is nor built under convenience or normal situations of life; it is built under pressure (Proverbs 24:10).

Endurance is built when you are required to do more even when the conditions are not favourable. Those who cave in or back out during trying times have lost the golden opportunity to develop endurance (James 1:1-5). If you always keep from doing stuff because it is difficult or because you have little or no support, then your endurance capacity will not be developed.

What makes training, training, is the fact that it would demand from you beyond what you are willing to give; beyond your comfort and convenience. But the moment you give it what it takes you would have increased in capacity (1 Timothy 4:7-8, 2 Timothy 2:3).

Just like a rubber band, the ability to endure stretches is what increases your capacity. You need to go all the way with God against all odds. God is not asking us to back down or retire because the times are hard. No. He wants us to use the hard times to develop capacity for more.

© ‘Demola Awoyele
Lead Pastor,
Destiny Impact Church
Akure, Nigeria