Some days just have to be ‘endured’.
I was having one of those days recently. So, as is common for me, I began meditating on God’s love.
As we are coming into Easter at the moment, I found my thoughts turning to Jesus’ mind-blowing sacrifice for us.
- His willingness to ‘lay down’ his life
- His willingness to submit his body to torture
- His willingness to ‘become sin’ and experience an isolation from the Father that was heartbreaking.
Now some might say, ‘why on earth would you mediate on that? Don’t you have enough problems of your own as the wife of a sex addict?’
As a matter of fact, I do. Nevertheless, shifting the focus from myself, to the one I love most, bolsters me up even while bringing me to tears.
His Endurance###
The author of Hebrews explains this seeming contradiction well:
'And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honour beside God’s throne. Think of all the hostility he endured from sinful people; then you won’t become weary and give up.' — Hebrews 12:1b-3 (NLT)
The JB Phillips translation of this verse ends:
'Think constantly of him enduring all that sinful men could say against him and you will not lose your purpose or your courage.'
Jesus Called It###
Ours is a horrible situation – and the number of people in this situation rises exponentially as the wildfire of sex addiction and betrayal spreads.
Jesus understands betrayal and cares about our pain. He foresaw this time in history and I believe he talked about it. In his description (recorded by Matthew) of the end times he said:
Because of the spread of wickedness the love of most men will grow cold, though the man [or "woman"] who holds out [or "endures"] to the end will be saved. — Matthew 24:13 (JB Phillips)
If today is one of those ‘to be endured’ days — know that the fight is worth it. Know that keeping your eyes on the ‘author and finisher of your faith’ — the one who ‘called it’ and ‘gets it’ — will help.
