1 Corinthians 13:7 *"Love... endures through every circumstance*"( NIV)
*LOVE ENDURES ALL THINGS*
There is a common saying that "The baobab endures." The reason for that statement is because the baobab tree stands through drought, strong winds, fire, and storms. The bark gets scarred, branches break but the roots go deep. Year after year it still gives shade, fruit, and water.
That is a picture of how love endures all things. Love is tough and can stand in tough seasons because love can stay under the weight of adversity. Love is not love If it cannot endure tough seasons.
If Jesus hadn't endured the cross, you and I wouldn't have been saved. Hebrews 12:2 says, *"For the joy set before Him He endured the cross*". Without Christ's endurance, we won't be here. His endurance made us who we are today. Love made Him endure the beatings and sufferings for our sake.
I have heard of people walk out of their marriages because of a tough season. Some walked out of their marriages because of lack, barrenness, and resolvable conflicts.
From the time some started teaching enjoyment in marriage above biblical endurance, marriages began to collapse. Often, I tell people that a good marriage combines both enjoyment and endurance. The imperfections (not toxicity) you cannot change have to be endured. You don't pack your bags and walkout anyhow.
How come the virtue of loving endurance is becoming rare in most homes, families, relationships, and friendships? In our discipleship, we must return to core teachings like this.
In the pursuit of ministry, you need endurance. As a minister of the Gospel, there is this type of hardness that comes with answering God's call. Those that are not called into ministry may not understand this fully because it is better understood when experienced than when it is explained.
One of it is when God constrains you from making certain decisions even when you have all it takes. You see people with lesser qualification do certain things you know to do well but God says "No, don't do it". Sometimes, He sends us to hard places to minister to difficult people.
Paul, an apostle told his son in the Lord and mentee in ministry: *"You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ*"( 2 Tim 2:3).
As a minister of the Gospel, your love for God will be tested through seasons where endurance will be demanded of you. Those who stayed through such seasons always come out shining. There are days you will be tempted to ask If there is something you need to do after all has been done.
No one becomes great in anything without passing through their season of endurance. I am yet to meet any man who made giant stride in any field of human endeavour without endurance. All that matters is to ensure you are enduring for the right cause.
If you are passing through tough seasons in marriage, ministry and career, ask the Lord to help your love endure.
Father, teach me to love like you do in Jesus name