Endurance
“Troubles and difficulties are a tool which refines and purifies our faith, producing patience and endurance…To “wait” for the Lord entails confident expectation and active hope, never passive resignation.” (Foundation Study Bible, James 1:2, Isaiah 40:31)
“Endurance is a learned trait…Endurance requires a noble vision. If a person has the grace to see beyond temporary setbacks and difficulties to deeper truths, then the winds of trouble may blow hard in his life, but he is rooted in a firm foundation. No wonder a tree with deep roots stands strong even in the face of a hurricane.” (Father Barnabas Powell)
“Standing firm is not a way to be saved but the evidence that a person is really committed to Jesus. Endurance is not a means to earn salvation; it is the by-product of a truly devoted life. Endurance grows out of commitment to Jesus Christ.” (Life Application Study Bible, 1 Corinthians 1:24)
“ ‘You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.’ (2 Timothy 2:3); ‘But he who endures to the end will be saved.’ (Matthew 10:22, 24:13, Mark 13:3)…Clearly our ability to endure, and to be faithful while we endure is very important to our well-being both today and in terms of our salvation.” (Sacramental Living Blog)
“...the principle way we learn about the creation, the Fall, salvation, and the world to come is through suffering. We don’t pray for suffering but rather endure for the sake of Christ the sufferings that are the common lot of all mankind…If there be a true way that leads to the Everlasting Kingdom, it is most certainly that of suffering, patiently endured.” (Archimandrite Sergius, St. Colette)
“...there is no other way to the Kingdom of Heaven but through our own personal Cross. Our Cross can become sweet and fragrant with life, like the flowers that surround the Cross in front of us, if we endure it for the sake of the love of God.” (Archimandrite Sergius)
“Christ is both the author, that is, the initiator, and the finisher, that is, the perfecter of faith. His joy was to do God's will. He endured the cross in that He voluntarily accepted humiliation and death. We are to imitate His determination and perseverance.” (Orthodox Study Bible, Hebrews 12:2-3)
“It’s not that God wills for us to suffer; rather, because suffering is part of the condition created by our sin, out of love, He transformed suffering on the cross so now our suffering can be the means of our salvation and drawing closer to Christ.” (Sacramental Living Blog)