The Face of Joyful Endurance

I’ve been through a few cities in the last couple of weeks and in the surround of people upon people, it was the looks upon their faces that struck me the most. The sense of fatigue and anxiety was palpable if not outright obvious in overheard conversation. It was strange to be a part of lanes upon lanes (upon lanes) of crowded traffic, every driver in their own thousands of pounds of metal shell clouded with their own thoughts and their own problems and their own struggles; we were all sort of “alone together” on asphalt.

I saw a woman stumbling around within a tent-and-cardboard dump in between freeway on-ramps, and wondered whose little girl she used to be. I saw a man riddled with unhidden needle marks, and wondered if he ever got to be a lovable, huggable, secure and playful little boy. I wondered, about a lot of people, actually. I watched as a beautiful woman with wide blonde ringlets sat with proper posture on her deck with a coffee mug in hand…and immediately got up once the man in her life took the moody photograph from behind. Despite the range in economic realities, everyone carried their own burden, their own realities, their own image of how things are, or ought to be.

I wonder if we as homeschooling and homemaking mamas do our own stumbling around, however, even “alone together” within the walls of our own houses. Sometimes it’s not the “big traumas” that bring us down (and certainly there are situations where outside help is needed); it’s the relentless dings (or dishes) day after day after day after day after day. And alone in our heads with how things are, how they ought to be, and perhaps giving in (or giving up) to household disorder or disharmony, or even harming ourselves (whether by purpose or default), and all the while creating pictures of how things would be so perfect if only our posture (or coffee) was impeccable for longer than a snapshot. So much sadness in the world, true, but so much sadness in the home, too. One feeds the other, and methinks the devil knows this and propagates it.

When we feel relentless joylessness or despair, or are cultivating a helplessness or even a critical spirit in response to sin, I wonder if we’ve more need of repentance than we realize. For certain, our remembrance ought to be full: we recognize that without God we can do no good thing (Rom 7:18). We remember how while in our own wretched state, Jesus horrifically suffered and died to pay our sin debt that we might be free in conscience and reconciled to God (Rom 5:8). We even remember that Jesus promised we also would suffer in this world (John 16:33), but that He would be with us (Matt 28:20), and would never Himself lead us into any temptation we would be unable to bear (1 For 10:13).

And yet, here we are, head in hands, disappointed. Perhaps we believed a false gospel, and had expectation of robust health, wealth, lifestyle, comfortable pleasures and otherworldly spiritual experiences. Because certainly many of us professing faith did not in truth consider the cost of following Jesus (Luke 14:28), and what it might mean to take up the cross (Mark 10:21). Therefore, when trials inevitably come (as promised they would), false faith shows itself in the falling away (as Jesus promised it would). It is wise to examine ourselves, to see if we truly are in the faith (2 Cor 13:5, Ps 26:2).

We ought to repent that we have crafted idols of even good things (Lev 26:1) and are not really laying aside those weights of sin which easily distract and beset us (hello, Smartphone? Heb 12:1) and/or cultivate sinful affections and lusts (Gal 5:24). We ought to repent that we are allowing ourselves to be weary and faint in our minds (Heb 12:3), that we are not suffering, when we do, patiently in faith (1 Peter 2:20). We should repent of unbelief in God’s perfect chastening (Heb 12:7), and of a lack in faith and trust in His sovereign guidance (Eze 36:27).

We have need not only of remembrance of the commitment we made to Christ, but of endurance to persevere, to stubbornly—by His grace—remain Kingdom-minded, Truth-centered, and to honor Jesus our King above all. We have opportunity to witness both with our tongues and with our attitudes His equipping and sufficient power to grant to us patience, and hope, and joy, and longsuffering. Are we doing that in our daily lives? We have opportunity to walk worthy of the Lord in this world, bringing forth good fruit while we increase in the knowledge of God (Col 1:10-11). Are we daily meditating on His Word?

Are you struggling with the weight of sin, the burden of fighting your flesh, the devil and the world? Are you cast down and disquieted (Ps 42:5), even within your own head and home? Let me offer a few thoughts that may be helpful to you, as they have been helpful to me.

• Temptations and trials are opportunities to deny ourselves, repent, forgive others, and to consider it all a joy and blessing for eternity.
• Jesus is enough, but He loves His church so we ought to as well and thereby regularly fellowship, pray with, and serve the saints.
• The Bible is sufficient (2 Tim 3:16) to grant knowledge, patience, comfort, and hope. There is no substitute for Biblical counseling.
• No trial or difficulty is a surprise to God, and nothing is wasted in our growth towards holiness.
• God is the one fitting us for heaven, making us well pleasing in His sight (Phil 1:6, Heb 13:21).
• Sometimes there simply aren’t solutions, escape, or relief. Sometimes what we really need is perseverence and/or endurance.

These may be weary days for you, Mama, and maybe they’re about to get even wearier. Regardless of how we feel or the burdens we bear, let us as we have opportunity to bless God not only in our work, but in our trust and obedience to Him. Make up your mind, dear friend, to pray for His strength to endure, for His glory, and may the joy of the Lord shine upon all of our own faces as we are in the world doing His good pleasure.

Blessings,