The bible encourages us to endure. In Reference to Matthew 24:13, in fact, the word tells us that we will be saved through enduring the times. These verses give us foresight into how we will be tested and what we will need to endure to be saved; hatred, betrayal, deception, persecution, imprisonment and death.

To endure is easier said than done! How can we possibly prepare for such difficult tests? James 1:3 reminds us that through every difficulty we experience, it is an opportunity for our endurance to grow.

Hermann Maier - The second most successful ski racer with 54 World Cup titles.

Consider the american obsession with sports and athletics. Parents push their children to excel in various sports by enrolling them into specific activities as early in the child’s life as possible. Parents transport their kids to and from practice throughout the week, and on weekends jump from field to field, town to town, and even state to state. They want their children to have as much experience as possible. They want them to become stronger, faster, quicker, and have a greater “endurance” over their adversaries, They are overly committed to preparing their kids for what hardships they will be up against (in sports).

Why are we willing to be tested in sports day after day and weekend after weekend, but if hardship in life come our way we want to turn and run and question God? We need to face these challenging times because it is “practice” and preparation for what is to come! We can’t ignore difficult times and expect that they will never come again. We need to prepare, train, learn from the tests that come our way and then train again with that new technique and perspective. We need to transform our minds through the process. When we send kids off to practice, we remind them that this is for the glory of someday winning the World Cup, the Super Bowl, or the World Series. But do we teach them and encourage them to prepare for the glory of God with as much passion and obsession?! Are you obsessed with the training you’re going through? Have you considered what you’re training for and what is worth training for?