This is a phrase I heard from God while in a wait for my faith to manifest one of His promises. The road gets tough after awhile, making it seem way too long and exhausting, thus I always need God to encourage me. God is so faithful to me, whenever I call out to Him for wisdom He gives me exactly what I need to continue in my faith! This time, it was endure for a little while yet. Just when you think you have already endured as long as you possibly can, His Word to you gives you the strength you need to endure a little while longer!
Yesterday we talked about waiting for it, knowing ahead of time the course is going to be rough and it will take time. James tells us that we should enjoy the journey knowing how it will all turn out for our good!
James 1:2 Consider it wholly joyful, my brethren, whenever you are enveloped in or encounter trials of any sort or fall into various temptations. 3 Be assured and understand that the trial and proving of your faith bring out endurance and steadfastness and patience. 4 But let endurance and steadfastness and patience have full play and do a thorough work, so that you may be [people] perfectly and fully developed [with no defects], lacking in nothing.
Peter tells us the same that we should be glad for the little while we are distressed by trails and suffering temptations because our willingness to live by faith, proves the genuineness of our faith.
1 Peter 1:6 [You should] be exceedingly glad on this account, though now for a little while you may be distressed by trials and suffer temptations, 7 So that [the genuineness] of your faith may be tested, [your faith] which is infinitely more precious than the perishable gold which is tested and purified by fire. [This proving of your faith is intended] to redound to [your] praise and glory and honor when Jesus Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One) is revealed.
The revelation here is that not only are we being purified because of our faith, (because of our willingness to live by faith), but that our faith is counted as precious and infinite—that means our faith is imperishable! The other insanely awesome thing is that our faith will redound (contribute greatly to person's credit or honor)! Our faith will be recognized and praised as an accomplishment when Jesus is revealed!
Wow that is quite the reward, not only for the rewards of here and now, but what about the reward of our eternity? Have we understood the value God puts in our faith in Him? No wonder it is impossible to please God without faith, any other way is to perish!
I know it doesn’t feel good to be tried by our faith. I know the attacks of the enemy all to well, but when we keep our eyes on the prize, when we keep our focus on Him, we can endure for the little while —that rewards infinitely!
For a little while we will go through, for a time we will have to be patient under trial. For a little while we will have to endure with patience to overcome, but the reward is for an eternal crown—well worth the trail!
1 Peter 5:4 And [then] when the Chief Shepherd is revealed, you will win the conqueror’s crown of glory!
Remember that in that while you’re on your journey you can ask God to help you. James 1:5 ensures us that God will give us the wisdom needed to endure with patients and to come out without lack!
I can encourage you by experience that the wisdom God gives you in that time will see you through your challenge! He is faithful and will never leave you dissapointed!