Endurance

    The holidays will be different this year.  Back in March I think many of us were glad that Covid hadn't hit during the winter and during the holidays.  I don't think any of us expected it to go on this long either.  But, here we are.  About to enter the joyous holidays of Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's with Covid hanging over our heads.  For many, holidays can be hard by themselves: loss of loved ones the past year, stress of traveling, difficult family dynamics.  And this year we throw on top of all of it the stress of Covid, not being able to be around family, or having to do a zoom get together.  Fun!  

    As I was reading my Bible this morning I was struck by Paul's prayer in Colossians 1.  I love how Paul prays.  He always challenges my personal prayers for my friends and family.  But it was vv. 11-12 that really struck a chord with me.  Paul prays that the Colossians may be strengthened for all endurance, patience, joy, and giving thanks to God.  I think we need to be praying for these things for each other in this time more than ever.

    We need endurance.  This winter will be hard.  Holidays will be stressful and sad.  We need endurance to keep running the race set before us and to fix our eyes on Jesus.  We will need patience.  With stress comes short tempers, quick fuses, and outbursts.  Have patience, friends, with each other.  We will need joy.  This is supposed to be a time of joy!  Many of you have already begun to put up Christmas decorations and sing Christmas songs.  Remind yourself daily of the joy you have in Jesus.  God is good and he is the bringer of joy.  And finally, we will need to give thanks to God, daily.  Make it a practice, a habit, a mindset to daily take time this season to give thanks to God.  For His good character, for the good works He has done, that He is still sovereign and still in control.

    Let's take time to pray for each other.  Pray that we might have endurance, patience, joy and thanks!