Wednesday, January 27, 2016

Endurance

Endurance

  1. inˈd(y)o͝orəns,enˈd(y)o͝orəns/
    noun
    1. the fact or power of enduring an unpleasant or difficult process or situation without giving way.



Last Sunday, we watched a video about the Atonement. It showed Christ's suffering and pain. I wondered what He was thinking as He went through everything He did. After the excruciating prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane where He suffered the sins, pain sorrow of all mankind, was there relief? No, He was betrayed and arrested. After the horrific scourging, was there relief? No, a crown of thorns was placed on his head and then had to carry his own cross to Calgary. And then was there relief when nails were driven in hands and feet? And even after all that unthinkable pain, we know he suffered for hours, and still no relief. He even felt His Father's presence leave Him, and we hear him cry out and question the Father forsaking Him. 

And then it was finished. 

After watching His suffering, and all that He went through, the word Endurance came to mind. Endurance isn't usually a happy word.  It's the hard, icky, we-have-to-go-through this stuff. We all struggle, we all have trials. They are unbearable and seem to last forever. 

I have experienced such trials.  And just when I cry up to the heavens asking for relief, it doesn't always come when I think it should. It doesn't usually come when I'm pretty sure I've suffered long enough and learned all that I need to know.

Endurance is what the Savior did and He did it perfectly.  He did it out of love for each of us. He has compassion for every hurt, sorrow a human can suffer and He succors us with His perfect love.

 As He did, we need to endure our own small proverbial crosses and  gethsemanes. And then, perhaps only then, can we truly  help others endure, victoriously, to the end.