The ABCs of God's Love Letter: Endure

Welcome to
​The ABCs of God's Love Letter
25 Weeks. 25 Writers!

We will use the alphabet as an acrostic and study topics like: Abide, Beloved, Calling, Delight, Endure, Faithful, Garment, Hunger, Increase, Justice, Kindness, Light, Manna, Name, Ordain, Path, Quench, Ransom, Salt, Testify, Upright, Vanity, Wait, Yield, and Zeal.

Every week, we’ll discover a different topic. Each topic is accompanied by five Scripture verses—one for each weekday. The Bible Study has a page for each verse. Those spaces will invite you to write the verses out and journal what you’ve learned.

Every time I read God’s Word I learn something new. I also find that Scripture writing really helps me meditate, and as I meditate, God always shows me just what I need for that day—it’s AMAZING!

I pray you’ll join us and learn new and exciting things too from His Word.

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​This Week We're Looking at Endure

​Let’s face it. This world is a train wreck and we all need a bit of endurance these days, don’t we? From the headlines to the grocery store lines and into each one of our hearts and homes, it seems that something is out of whack. What you thought was going to be a sprint is turning into a triathlon that you were never trained for. You are not alone! Let’s take a look and see what the Bible has to say about enduring trials.

1. Endurance Keeps Your Eyes Fixed
You can be sure that God sees all things, both good and bad. His Word, the Bible, says you are to endure sorrows even when you have to suffer for doing the right thing. Why? Because God is really good at taking every injustice in the world and making it right. It would be really nice to have justice meted out here on earth, but there are some things God chooses to fix in the next life. Scripture calls you to keep in mind there is a bigger picture in play when you are falsely accused, misunderstood, or just plain violated. He calls you to fix your eyes on Him and not the situation. What areas of sorrow and suffering do you need to surrender to an Almighty God?

“For this is a gracious thing, when, mindful of God, one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly." 1 Peter 2:19

2. Endurance Helps You Encourage Others
What you have gone through matters, and will influence others for the Kingdom. Everyone who is in the middle of a mess needs a helping hand and a guiding influence to cheer them along the way. They need to see Jesus in your time of testing. Patient endurance in a trial will encourage others to run their race well and deepen their own faith. What you are going through right now will someday become your testimony of victory to strengthen others. What trial of faith do you need to share so that others are encouraged to endure their time of trial and testing?

“Therefore we ourselves boast about you in the churches of God for your steadfastness and faith in all your persecutions and in the afflictions that you are enduring.” 2 Thessalonians 1:4

3. Endurance Brings Others Into The Kingdom
When trials hit, it is easy to throw up the white flag and go eat an entire pizza. Scripture tells you not to do that, no matter how much you love extra cheese! You are called to a specific job for this specific hour and you should not back down when the road gets rough. Press in and press on! Think soberly of the outcome if you back away from your God-given calling to win souls from the clutches of the enemy. Who will intercede if you do not? What areas are you being called to endure in order to bring about redemption in a particular situation?

"As for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.” 2 Timothy 4:5

4. Endurance Teaches You What Love Is
It is easy to love the socks off of lovely people, but much harder to love when you have to turn the other cheek. Loving the prodigal child, the unbelievably difficult spouse, or the malicious coworker is not easy, but you are called to love like Jesus. That calls for endurance, doesn’t it? Real, true, Jesus-kind-of-love rolls up its sleeves and gets messy. Bear with, believe with, hope for, and endure with those relationships that are wounded. What relationship are you bearing with that needs healing? What relationship needs loving boundaries?

“Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.” 1 Corinthians 13:7

5. Endurance Brings Hope
Praise God that He gave you His Word to bless and encourage you every day! Not only do you have a Bible that shouts victory, but God has given you brothers and sisters in Christ to cheer you onward and upward. Even more so, He gave you Jesus Christ as your supreme example of how to endure suffering for a greater purpose. Jesus ran His race well, and so can you. He endured the cross, for what? The joy set before Him. What was that joy? You, my dear friend. He knew that if He endured His cross that He would spend eternity with you. He endured to give you the hope of heaven. Friend, endure this temporary trial because you have the hope of heaven ahead of you. Endure this trial to see a greater ending.

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and the sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,  looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.” Hebrews 12:1-2

I have no idea what God has called you to endure in this season of your life. But I do know these three things: First, you are not alone. Second, you are surrounded by fellow sojourners. Third, you have God’s Word, and when you spend time soaking in His presence, He will give you the strength to endure whatever trial you face. Press on, friend! God has got this, and He has got you.

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Sheryl is the wife of an incredibly handsome farmer, mom of five, grandma, and founder of Simply Scripture. When she isn’t writing, there is a good chance you can catch her playing with her Golden Retriever puppies or enjoying family time around a campfire.

She is the author of numerous women’s Bible studies using her Simply Color© color code, and is the women’s ministry leader of her local church. For over 25 years, her passion has been learning, studying, teaching and sharing biblical truth with women of all ages. 

Her writing and speaking is sprinkled with honesty, humor, and encouragement, while digging out deep biblical concepts that practically apply to daily life.

FOLLOW HER HERE
​WEB | FACEBOOK | PINTEREST

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The ABCs of God's Love Letter Scripture Memory Cards

The ABCs of God's Love Letter Bible Study is accompanied by a collection of 25 5 X 5 Scripture Memory Cards. We'll utilize this great tool to help us memorize a Scripture verse once a week that goes with the topic we're studying that week. Hiding God's Word in our heart is so important!

These square press prints are printed on thick, high-quality, matte art paper and include a small white border. They are available here in our Etsy shop. But WAIT, there's more! Just for you —> ​Use code SAVE50 at checkout for 50% OFF your entire order. FREE SHIPPING on orders $35 or more, otherwise, shipping is just $2.00, as always! ​

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​What does Endure mean to you?