Romans 15:1-6 Encouragement to Endure
The Civil War, two world wars, the Great Influenza, the Great Depression, floods, storms, and hurricanes. How did they survive? How did they endure in such challenging and uncharted territory?
Our encouragement to endure comes from the Lord. It’s true, it’s a gift, and it’s the mark of the “with-God” life.
Such endurance sets us apart.
Paul even whispers a prayer in Romans 15:5 for us to take note:
Now may the God who gives endurance and encouragement grant you to live in harmony with one another according to Christ Jesus.
If God only gave us encouragement, then would that be sufficient? My soul says yes, but my heart doesn’t agree. I need whatever it takes to endure. I need to be with God, no matter what happens. Likewise, I require the encouragement to endure.
Strong or weak?
Because of the encouragement Christ pours into our soul, we can be strong for the weak—an example for others to follow. His encouragement puts things into perspective so we can endure. Such endurance produces harmony with other Christians and non-Christians alike.
The best definition of encouragement I’ve ever found was that it is pouring your courage into another. As we endure hardships, problems, and even challenges, we can help others. We can’t help but encourage others—course to hang in there, courage to trust the Lord, and courage to believe in Romans 8:28.
We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God, and who are called according to His purpose.
Called according to His purpose
We are given a promise to endure—to be encouraged even when life is hard. People are going to do what they do. Our children will reap what they sow. Grief hurts our hearts and heartbreak tests our faith. Trouble comes and trouble goes, but Christ stands firm forever.
Even this is according to His purpose.
Endurance and encouragement come hand-in-hand. We can endure, come what may because God pours courage into our soul, so the outcome is not only for our good, but the good of others and to honor the Lord.
The watching world watches.
We come out on the other side refined like silver purified by the hottest fire.
Look up
Keep your eyes on Christ, the Author and Finisher of your faith. He shows Himself faithful to the faithful. As in peace, so in troubled times, seek fellowship with God. Make this the desire of your heart.
No matter what happens endure and continue to fellowship with Father God in Christ Jesus.
Father God gives endurance and supplies encouragement day-by-day and just as much as we need for the day: nothing more nor anything less. Like manna, the unlimited supply with be available today and tomorrow.
Continue in harmony with one another as much as it is in your power. You cannot change another person or redo the harm already felt. Forgive as you have been forgiven, and be encouraged by God’s gracious love.
Extend the encouragement God has given you. We are His workmanship—His masterpiece. His work in our soul is always for our good.
Take a Deeper Look at Endurance/Encouragement
So, let’s go to the dictionary and see what it means by endurance and encouragement:
Endurance
- Ability to withstand hardship, adversity, or stress
- Remain firm under suffering or misfortune without yielding
- Bear under or undergo hardship without giving in.
Encourage
- Inspire with courage, spirit, or hope.
- Spur on
- Give help
The courage to endure comes from the Lord – no doubt. It comes as we fellowship with Him and with those who are like-minded in the faith.
Comes from Fellowship and Reading God’s Word
Our ability to endure, and even encouragement others to endure, comes from reading, engaging in, and experiencing Sacred Scripture prayerfully.
These things were written in the Scriptures so long ago are to teach us patience and to encourage us so that we will look forward expectantly to the time when God will conquer sin and death. (Romans 15:4 TLB).
God’s Word is the recorded account of His dealings with His people and reveals God’s true heart for His people. It gives us accounts of His encouragement and the display of endurance. It is better to be in right standing with God, even if that calls for suffering in society and the post-Christian world.
God never breaks His promises, and those who delight in Holy Scripture will be comforted in sorrow and encouraged in troubled waters.
Attitude of the Heart
Endurance takes a right attitude of the heart—the heart safely yielded to God. More than patience, it is strength to accept things knowing He is Sovereign in love and remains that way. Such fortitude comes from His loving hand.
Christians of the past in wars, famines, floods, economic depression, and pandemics endured to the end. They are God’s witnesses of His enduring love. They did not walk in despair because they lived the “with-God” life.
Furthermore, they were not marked by grumbling, discontent but cheerful gratitude and pure gratefulness. The God of endurance and encouragement changes not.
So, in conclusion, Sister Disciples, let’s take a look at a sister disciple of the past for encouragement.
Example From History—Fanny Cosby
Fanny J. Crosby was born in the village of Brewster, New York, on March 24, 1820. She was a Puritan, which could trace her linage to families of the Mayflower.
At six weeks old, she caught a cold and developed inflammation in her eyes. Something called must poultices were applied to her eyes to treat it, but they damaged her optic nerves and she became blind.
Her mother and maternal grandmother grounded her in the faith, helping her memorize long passages from Scripture.
Although her family tried to help her see, doctors concluded her condition was inoperable and her blindness permanent.
Of her blindness she was not bitter, but was encouraged by the Lord in her endurance.
Let me stop here to quote her:
“It seemed intended by the blessed providence of God that I should be blind all my life, and I thank Him for the dispensation. If perfect earthly sight were offered me tomorrow, I would not accept it. I might not have sung hymns to the praise of God if I had been distracted by the beautiful and interesting things about me.”
“It may seem a little old-fashioned, always to being one’s work with prayer, but I never undertake a hymn without first asking the good Lord to be my inspiration.”
By the age of 15, Fanny memorized the four gospels, the Pentateuch, Proverbs, Song of Solomon, and many of the Psalms. Most of all, she delighted to write hymns about her experience of God’s faithfulness and joy in her “with-God” life.
Her poems and hymns were composed entirely in her mind and ducted them to someone to transcribed
God gave her music in her heart, and her recorded poems and hymns are left to us as a record of her endurance and encouragement from the Lord Himself.
Fanny died on February 12, 1915, at aged 94. Her family erected a minimal tombstone at her request, which carried the words: “Aunt Fanny: She had done was she could; Fanny J. Crosby.
The God of endurance and encouragement was with her until the end.
“When I get to heaven, the first face that shall ever gladden my sight will be that of my Savior.”
Conclusion
Let us take courage in the Lord and endure each day’s trials and tribulations with the calm assurance that God is with us.
by Fanny J. Crosby
Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine! O what a fore-taste of glory divine! Heir of salvation, purchase of God, Born of His Spirit, washed in His blood.
Perfect submission, perfect delight, visions of rapture now burst on my sight! Angels descending bring from above echoes of mercy, whispers of love.
Perfect submission, all is at rest. I in my Savior am happy and blest; watching and waiting, looking above, filled with His goodness, lost in His love.
This is my story, this is my song, praising my Savior all the day long; This is my story, this is my song. Praising my Savior all the day long.
