Those That Can Endure

 

Psalm 86:1-5 (NLT)
“1 A prayer of David. Bend down, O LORD, and hear my prayer; answer me, for I need your help. 2 Protect me, for I am devoted to you. Save me, for I serve you and trust you. You are my God. 3 Be merciful to me, O Lord, for I am calling on you constantly. 4 Give me happiness, O Lord, for I give myself to you. 5 O Lord, you are so good, so ready to forgive, so full of unfailing love for all who ask for your help.”

Through his life, the psalmist, King David, faced numerous enemies, including his own son, Absalom. In a lot of his psalms, David cries out to God for deliverance, and our Heavenly Father was faithful to provide it. In Psalm 86:2, David asks for protection, telling God that he is devoted to Him. We can sense the emotional intensity and vulnerability in David’s psalm, but his confidence in God’s power is also evident. Most of us do not bear the same burdens as David, but we can relate to being vulnerable and acknowledging that there’s no one who can solve our problems but God.

During the Last Supper, our precious Lord and Savior was preparing the disciples for what was to come: his death, resurrection, and ascension. He knows that they’ll face immense sorrow, confusion, and fear, especially after his crucifixion. In John 16:33 (NLT), he told them, “I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.” Life is full of challenges. No matter who you are or where you’re from, you can count on going through trials. And let’s be real—sometimes those trials can feel like they’re too much to handle. In the moment, it’s tough to see beyond the pain and frustration, but Jesus Christ assures us that while the struggle is real, so is the victory.

Things can become so entangled and complex that we feel powerless. We may not see ourselves as those who can endure. When we’re going through it, it’s easy to lose sight of the strength we possess through Christ. Our circumstances may make us question whether we have the resolve to press on, but the truth is, God equips us for endurance, even when we feel overwhelmed. Philippians 4:13 (NLT) tells us: “For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.” On our own, we can’t handle everything that the world throws at us, but in Christ, we can overcome any obstacle or challenge. It's not by our own power, but by his that we are able to endure and thrive.

James 1:3 (NLT) tells us, “For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow.” God doesn’t cause our trials, but when they come, they stretch us. They push us beyond our comfort zone and provide an opportunity for our faith in Him to grow. Sometimes, when things get tough, we might be tempted to abandon our faith. We may want to give up, but that’s when God’s love for us is most evident. He doesn’t give up on us, even when we’re ready to give up.

We can trust our Heavenly Father to bring us through the most challenging situations of life, recognizing that He never fails. He will never leave or forsake us. Our devotion to Him will be tested, and sometimes it is tested in ways that are unimaginable, but like David, we must cry out to God in humility and devotion. Our confidence in His willingness and ability to come to our rescue is always rewarded. Remember, because of His love and grace, we are those who can endure. Even when the path seems uncertain, we are not alone. 2 Corinthians 12:9 (NLT) declares that God’s strength is made perfect in our weakness, and through Him, we can stand firm, no matter what comes our way. ■

Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved.

“Those That Can Endure”, written by Kim for https://rescuefromdomesticviolence.blogspot.com© 2025. All rights reserved. All praise and honor to God through Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior.

Vulnerability and the Willingness to Submit

 

Psalm 18:27-29 (NLT)
 “27 You rescue the humble, but you humiliate the proud. 28 You light a lamp for me. The LORD, my God, lights up my darkness. 29 In your strength I can crush an army; with my God I can scale any wall.”

Psalm 18:27-29 answers any questions we might have about the incredible strength and power of God. It also speaks to His ability and willingness to help us triumph over any obstacle. Yes, we can go through some doozies in life, issues that seem insurmountable to us. These are the fiery darts of satan, sent to attack our faith, cause doubt in our hearts, and injure our relationship with God. It shouldn’t be lost on us that our weakest vulnerabilities often come under fire. When this happens, our Heavenly Father comes to our rescue, but we must also recognize that He requires something of us as well. He expects we’ll get busy confronting those weaknesses and strengthening them by studying and practicing the truth of His Word. We must be teachable, humbling ourselves before God through His Holy Spirit and understanding that His strength is always available to us. While we lean on His strength, He invites us to actively engage in the process of growing stronger in Him.

1 Peter 5:6 (NLT) tells us, “So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and at the right time he will lift you up in honor.” When we cry out to God for His help, we often want Him to fix what’s wrong, and then we go back to doing things our way, remaining unchanged. While our Heavenly Father doesn’t cause the difficulties we face, He won’t let the lessons they bring go to waste. He uses those challenges to draw us into a deeper relationship with Him—one where we learn more about Christ and grow in spiritual maturity.

Psalm 34:18 reminds us that God is close to the brokenhearted. There is nothing we go through in life that He doesn’t know about. Jesus tells us in Luke 12:7 that even the hairs on our heads are numbered and we’re very precious to our Heavenly Father. He is not distant from us, and He does not turn away while we are suffering. He wants us to submit to Him so that we are transformed through our trials and tribulations. He wants us to come out stronger, with a deeper understanding of His love, grace, and power. 

Submitting to God requires us to read, study, and meditate on the scriptures; they speak healing to our souls and bring correction to our hearts and minds. When we go to His Word, it means we’re deliberately tuning into what the Father says. We’re humbling ourselves before Him, acknowledging that we can’t handle life’s struggles on our own, but we know that He can. He has a Word for us. It’s just the Word we need to allow Him to step into our situations, not just to 

change our circumstances, but to change us. This process of refinement is beautifully described in James 1:2-4 (NLT): “Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.”

James 4:10 (NLT) tells us “Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up in honor.” God wants us to be as humble as little children. Why? Because humility fosters surrender, and when we submit to God’s Will, we align ourselves with His victory. When you’re unsure of what to do in a tough situation, call on Him – He will come to your aid. Humility doesn’t mean having a low status; rather, it means acknowledging that we can’t do it alone. We all need God’s help, and He has a special place in His heart for those who are tender and pliable towards Him.

Sometimes, deep within us is a stubbornness that doesn’t completely yield to God’s transformative power. We hold a little piece of ourselves back, convinced that something or someone else can offer us more than our Heavenly Father. We’re not fully convinced of His joy, at least not to the point that we allow it to replace our hunger for fleeting pleasures. Romans 12:1 (NLT) tells us, “And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him.” When we surrender ourselves completely to God, we open the door to a joy and peace far greater than anything the world can offer. It's in this act of surrender, the willingness to trust Him fully, that we experience His true, life-changing presence.

When it comes to truly trusting God and submitting to His Will, it’s not just about what we say, but most importantly reflected in what we do. It's a deeply personal commitment that shows through our actions, our decisions, and our way of life. It's easy to say that we trust God but truly trusting Him means that we’re praying more, increasing our quality time with Him, and committing ourselves to study and meditate upon His Word more. It’s about living in a way that reflects His teachings, even when it's difficult or when we don't understand the full picture.

We have to let go and let God, and this fully surrendered life may look very different from what we’ve imagined. And that’s okay. The bottom line is that we must relinquish control, understanding that trusting God means being patient and resting in His promises. Troubling circumstances can rock us to our core, revealing our vulnerabilities and leaving us feeling undone. Yet, in those moments, we must hold onto God and recognize that through it all, He’s transforming us. We’re never alone. He’s always with us, and our faith in Him will shape us into the person He wants us to be and help us to receive the abundance He has prepared for our lives.■ 

Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved.

“Vulnerability and the Willingness to Submit” written by Kim for https://rescuefromdomesticviolence.blogspot.com© 2024. All rights reserved. All praise and honor to God through Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior.