Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever. Let the redeemed of the Lord tell their story- those he redeemed from the hand of the foe, those he gathered from the lands, from east and west, from north and south. 
-Psalm 107:1-3

What does it mean to endure something? What does endurance look like? Where do you find strength and courage when you are enduring a challenging situation or season in your life?

One definition of endurance is the power to withstand pain or hardships; the ability or strength to continue despite fatigue, stress, or other adverse conditions. I am not a runner in training or competing in a sport. In my childhood through high school, I spent most of my time in the dance studio. The physical challenges and endurance I learned from those experiences have provided me with many of the tools I needed since then to endure physically. 

During that stage of my life, so much of the endurance involved my feet and they often looked like this:

In college and into adulthood, I don't require the same type of physical endurance that I needed before, but now life experiences that include grief, loss, and stress test my endurance more.  My endurance has moved from my feet to my hands and looks more like this now:

Look around you today, and think about what endurance has meant for you in your set of life experiences. Take a picture (either mentally or literally) of an image that expresses your definition of endurance.

God's love is one that is unconditional, always present and endures forever. During this Lenten season we reflect on the many trials and challenges that Christ endured on our behalf. Take a moment to lift up prayers of thanks to God today as you remember Christ's ultimate example of endurance.

Prayer for Today

Gracious God, Help us to look deep within for your love that fuels our endurance. Guide us as we face today's challenges. In Christ's Name, Amen.