The Longevity of Faith: Endurance

Stepping out in faith is sometimes the greatest challenge many people face. But equally challenging—and in many regards, more challenging—is continuing in faith, especially when it seems the promises are not coming to pass. But don’t give up. He who promised is faithful.

The Confidence of Faith

Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see. Hebrews 11:1 (NLT)

Faith is not a casual belief or a pessimistic hope. No matter how long it may take and no matter how difficult the obstacles may be, faith has total confidence and assurance in the promises of God. Faith is a confident expectation to receive what God has promised. Faith never gives up!

But faith isn’t the only ingredient to receiving the promises of God. The Bible says, “Do not become sluggish, but… through faith and patience inherit the promises.” Hebrews 6:12 (NKJV). Both faith and patience are necessary ingredients to inheriting the promises of God. Without one or the other, we will fall short. Both are required and both will be challenged. Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen and it gives us the assurance about things we cannot see. Patience is the characteristic of endurance which sustains our faith for longevity. Many people can begin in faith, but then lack the patience (and endurance) to stick it out and continue in faith all the way till the end.

Stepping Out in Faith

To inherit the promises of God, you must first learn to step out in faith.

Stepping out in faith is not a pessimistic hope based on a mere desire you have; it requires hearing a word from the Lord and being confident that God will do what He said. Romans 10:17 says, “Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” (NKJV). Think about the Apostle Peter when he stepped out of the boat to walk on the water. What caused him to step out of the boat? It was not his confidence in the natural conditions or even in his own ability. Peter had a word from the Lord!

Peter said to Him, “Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.” And He said, Come!” And Peter got out of the boat, and walked on the water and came toward Jesus. Matthew 14:28–29 (NASB95)

When Peter received a word from the Lord, it created the confidence necessary to step out of the boat and walk toward Jesus, even despite the odds. He did not put his confidence in his own ability or the natural conditions. He stepped out solely on a word from the Lord—which produced a confident faith—and he did the impossible. Peter walked on the water and he was seeing the word of the Lord coming to pass in his life. He was well on his way. But… after stepping out in faith, something shifted. Peter began to doubt the word he received from the Lord. He did not have longevity of faith. Though he began in faith, he did not continue in faith.

Continuing in Faith

But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!” Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “Why did you doubt?” Matthew 14:30-32 (NIV)

Peter initially stepped out of the boat on a word from the Lord, but he eventually took his eyes off of the word he received and began to pay attention to the storm he was facing. And by doing so, he began to doubt the word of the Lord, and started sinking. He did not have the longevity of faith to make it all the way to the end. Jesus said that Peter had little faith. In other words, he only had enough faith to get to a certain point (where he began to sink), but not enough faith to sustain him all the way to the very end, and his confidence in the word he received from the Lord was not sustained through difficulty and delay. Here’s why; because he took his eyes off of Jesus and onto the storm.

Whenever we take our eyes off of the word of God, even after stepping out in faith, we will begin to falter in our journey toward the intended promise of the Lord.

If you have initially stepped out in faith on a word from God, but are beginning to get disheartened, discouraged or fearful because of the difficulties or delay, keep your eyes on Jesus! Do not focus on the storm or the trials or the delay. The Bible says, “Run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith.” Hebrews 12:1–2 (NKJV). If you will continue to look to Jesus, regardless of the difficulties or delay, you will find the endurance (longevity) necessary to not only step out in faith, but to continue in faith. Notice that Jesus is both the author and the finisher of your faith, which means when you look to Jesus, He will not only help you to begin in faith, but also to continue in faith all the way to the very end. Stay confident in the word of the Lord. Keep your eyes on Jesus. Run with endurance (longevity).

The Endurance of Faith

Therefore do not cast away your confidence, which has great reward. For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise. Hebrews 10:35–36 (NKJV).

Though stepping out in faith is sometimes a great challenge in and of itself, it is merely the starting point to see your word come to pass. Equally challenging—and in many cases, more challenging—is continuing in faith. But don’t give up. He who promised is faithful, no matter what it looks like in the natural. Galatians 6:9 says, “And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.” (NKJV). This tells us that we can, in fact, be well on our way to receiving the promises of God and yet lose heart (lose hope) in the process. But if we will stay the course and not give up, we will obtain the promise in due time… which is why we need endurance. Notice what the Bible says about Abraham:

For when God made a promise to Abraham, because He could swear by no one greater, He swore by Himself, saying, “Surely blessing I will bless you, and multiplying I will multiply you.” And so, after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise. Hebrews 6:12–15 (NKJV)

Abraham not only began in faith when he left his father’s house and country at the word of the Lord, but he continued in faith with patient endurance for over 25 years—despite what it looked like in the natural—and he obtained the promise. He had both faith and patience working together and it created the endurance necessary to continue in faith. But what about us? How do we get this kind of patient endurance to have the longevity of faith to never give up despite the difficulties or delay? The answer may shock you…

My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. James 1:2–4 (NKJV)

Trials create the opportunity to refine your faith and patience. Notice very carefully how this works. It has already been established that it takes both faith and patience to inherit the promises. And though many people may begin in faith, some lack the patience (endurance) to continue in faith, especially during a season of trial and hardship, and will therefore give up and quit before obtaining the promise. As a result, many people perceive the trial to be an obstacle, but in reality, the trial is an opportunity to refine your faith and patience. It all depends on your outlook and resolve. When you lack the faith and patience to make it all the way to the end, a trial will either become an obstacle or an opportunity, because the testing of your faith produces patience, which is the other key ingredient to inheriting the promises of God. You have the power to determine whether or not the trail will become an obstacle or an opportunity; a stumbling block or a stepping stone.

Will the trial you are facing today be a stumbling block or a stepping stone?

Do not cast away your confidence. Never give up; no matter how long it takes; no matter the trials you may be facing; count it all joy. Consider the trials to be nothing more than an opportunity and a stepping stone in your journey to receive the promise. When you have a word from God, He fully intends to bring it to pass. Stay confident!