Part 5 of 5: Standing Firm in the Battle - 6 Voices. 5 Topics. One goal—endure in faith, joy, and truth

Final Reflections — Pressing On in the Battle

Cultivating Joy When Life Is Hard

Welcome to the final post in our 5-part series, "Standing Firm in the Battle." Throughout this series, we’ve heard from six believers as they’ve shared their experiences and biblical insights on resisting temptation, standing through spiritual attack, persevering in waiting, and cultivating joy in hardship. If you missed any of the previous parts, you can catch up: Part 1, part 2, part 3, and part 4.

In this final entry, each contributor offers a closing reflection—something God has taught them about spiritual endurance or a truth they want to leave with readers. Consider this post a series wrap-up, but also a call to keep pressing on in faith, no matter what battles you face.

What Has God Taught You About Endurance?

Dan Blincoe

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Endurance isn’t just gritting your teeth and hoping to make it through. It’s not barely holding on, waiting for God to show up. It’s the steady strength that comes from knowing He’s already here. He’s in it with you. And He’s not interested in simply helping you survive. He’s forming something eternal. Something beautiful. The invitation isn’t to escape the storm. It’s to become like Jesus in the middle of it. More radiant, more grounded, more whole than when it all began.

God never promised life would be easy. But He did promise Himself. And when Christ is in you, then grace is real, and you can grow strong even in the breaking.

The enemy would love for you to think endurance is just about pain tolerance. That if you can just outlast the suffering, maybe God will reward you in the end. But that’s not the heart of the Gospel. Endurance is not just surviving. It’s trusting. It’s learning to see through the wind and the waves—not because the storm dies down, but because your eyes are locked on Jesus. You don’t have to feel strong. You only need to be rooted in the One who is. And He never shifts.

What I’ve learned about endurance is this: it’s not proven in some big victorious moment. It’s formed in the hidden places. The quiet mornings when you get out of bed and whisper, “God, I still believe.” The long nights where everything in you wants to let go, but you hold on to His promises anyway. When you’ve wept, waited, prayed, and yet something in you still says yes. That is endurance. That is stunning.

It grows in the places no one sees. In the ache of unanswered prayers. In the silence. In the trial. When healing doesn’t come right away. When breakthrough still feels far off. And yet, your heart stays open. You stay tender. You keep leaning into Him. That’s not weakness. That is strength. That is maturity. That’s the Spirit shaping your life to mirror the Son, who endured the cross with joy in His heart because He saw what was coming (Hebrews 12:2).

God isn’t searching for perfect performers. He’s after lovers. People who won’t run just because it’s hard. Not out of obligation, but because they’ve seen His face. They know His heart. And they know He is worth it. When you finally believe that you are already complete in Him, you stop measuring your life by outcomes. You start measuring it by faithfulness. That’s what endurance produces—a life anchored in unshakable love (James 1:2–4).

So if today feels heavy, don’t just ask, “How do I get through this?” Ask, “What is God building in me through this?” Because you are not just passing time. You are being refined. You are not being left behind. You are being shaped. Keep walking. Keep trusting. Keep becoming. One day, you’ll look back and realize the trial didn’t break you. It revealed who you really are in Him. That is endurance. And it is glorious (Romans 5:3–5).

Steven Galatioto:

Imagine waiting in line at the DMV—each minute feels slow, tedious, and almost purposeless. Now picture waiting in line for your favorite attraction at an amusement park. Despite the wait, there’s excitement in the air, anticipation of fun, and a clear vision of the reward at the end. This contrast illustrates how an eternal perspective changes our experience of waiting and hardship. While the DMV line offers little hope, a heavenly perspective reminds us that our present struggles are temporary compared to the eternal joy promised by God.

Endurance is more than just pushing through tough times; it's about keeping our eyes fixed on what truly matters. In 2 Corinthians 4:16-18 NIV we are reminded,

“Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.”

Even when life “spills the popcorn” unexpectedly—a minor mess or setback that seems to derail your day—remember that these moments are part of the journey. They remind us that perfection isn’t the goal; perseverance is. Just as a small mishap in an amusement park doesn’t ruin the day, our trials are just fleeting moments that build our character and strengthen our faith.

Here are some additional thoughts on endurance:

• Fix Your Eyes on Christ: Hebrews 12:1-2 calls us to keep our focus on Jesus, who not only endured but overcame. When our gaze is fixed on Him, even the longest waits or hardest trials gain meaning.

• Focus on the Present: Matthew 6:27 reminds us, "Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?" Concentrate on the present moment, trusting that God is at work, even in the mundane.

• Embrace the Journey: Endurance isn't about reaching the finish line without stumbling. It's about learning, growing, and finding strength in each step, even when the path seems rough.

• Celebrate Small Victories: Every act of perseverance, every moment you choose hope over despair, is a victory. These wins are the stepping stones that prepare you for greater rewards.

In life, just as in waiting for that amusement park ride, we may encounter moments that feel endless. Yet, with our eyes set on the eternal and a heart anchored in faith, we are equipped to finish the race with endurance and joy.

Cole Nielsen:

"Sanctify Christ the Lord in your hearts" -1 Peter 3:15

These words, in my own opinion, are among the most foundational in all of scripture.

God has instructed me through these words that "If I speak in the tongues of men and angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong—a clanging cymbal. If I have prophetic powers, understand all mysteries and knowledge, and have faith to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. And If I give away all I have, even delivering up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing" (1 Corinthians 13:1-3).

He taught me that I can "toil and ( have ) patient endurance, unable to bear with those who are evil, testing false apostles, even finding them false... and enduring patiently bearing up and not growing weary for ( Christ's ) namesake" (Revelation 2:2-3), yet all the while still having "abandoned the love ( I ) had at first" (Revelation 2:4).

He revealed to me that these words are the very embodiment of, not only the first commandment "Have no other God's before me" (Exodus 20:3), but the greatest commandment to "love the Lord with all ( my ) heart, soul, and mind" (Matthew 22:37). Any action done outside of sanctifying the Lord in my heart is meaningless because it is idolatry—putting something other than God atop the throne in my heart.

Without these foundational words we become Pharisees, outwardly righteous and inwardly rotten. Doing things to glorify ourselves out of some twisted sense of morality and not out of love for God. Accomplishing things out of obligation to the letter rather than delight in the Creator. To actions like these God says "I hate—I despise your feasts! I take no delight in your solemn assemblies! Even though you offer me your burnt offerings, and the peace offerings of your fattened animals, I will not accept them, nor will I look upon them! Take the noise of your songs away from me! I will not listen to the melody of your harps!" (Amos 5:21-23).

When the Lord is not sanctified in our heart, we will cry out to him on that day "Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy, cast out demons, and do many mighty works in your name?" (Matthew 7:22), but He will reply, "I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness" (Matthew 7:23).

What do we do if this is where we are? Well, what can we do but call upon the promise of God that, He "will circumcise your heart... so that you will love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, so that you may live" (Deuteronomy 30:6)? With this heart circumcision causing love for God to burst out of our hearts, we are now able to be "seekers of what is good" and "who can harm you if have become" so (1 Peter 3:13)? We can now be blessed even though we "might suffer on account of righteousness" (1 Peter 3:14). And now that the Lord has been sanctified in our hearts through Spiritual circumcision we can be "prepared at all times for a word of defense to all those questioning the hope within" us (1 Peter 3:15).

Let us, then, cast off all empty works and sanctify Christ as Lord in our hearts—so that on that day, He will know us as His own.

Janet Abadir:

"If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory." -Colossians 3:1-4

I have already written a book about what I have learned through suffering in the last two years. I hope you check it out—it's called Drink from the River of Delight: Welcome to God's Healing Space in His Word, along with the similarly titled study guide. Here are a few thoughts summarized from the book.

Rewards are real.

When we live for rewards, life makes sense. When we see that the rewards for obedience are massive, and the consequences of disobedience are dire, we will choose to obey with a happy heart. Jesus motivates us with His rewards, and that is a wonderful thing. The rewards of living for Jesus are so different from man's rewards. Jesus' reward is eternal, and Jesus Himself is our reward (John 17:10, Philippians 3:8). When one person gains a reward, the entire Body of Christ benefits, and God is glorified. I don't take away from your reward by gaining more reward myself, but instead we both benefit. Also, if I pray for you, cheer for you, or help you in any way, then I share in your reward (Matthew 10:41).

Learn how to seek God's glory, then you will no longer be seeking man's glory.

When my job as a surgeon went away, I realized that I missed the glory I was receiving from people when they would acknowledge me as their surgeon. I didn't realize it was so important to me until it was gone. John 5:44 became my life verse: "How can you believe, when you receive glory from one another and do not seek the glory that comes from the only God?" Now I seek God's glory and I do not receive glory from people (John 5:41), as I ask for God's help in this every day.

Humility leads to glory, therefore God has highly exalted Jesus and given Him the name above all names.

We all need to memorize Philippians 2:1-11. Jesus took the lowest place, therefore God has exalted Him to the highest place. Jesus, simultaneously fully God and fully man, willingly left behind His heavenly exaltation, His human desires, and His human will, so that we could be saved. God is glorified in saving us, and His glory is all-consuming. Let's make our life goal to please God, to bring Him glory, and to gaze at His glory, so that we can be transformed from one degree of glory to the next (2 Corinthians 3:18).

Count yourself dead: you are already in the victory parade in 2 Corinthians 2:14-17.

Prisoners of war were paraded in the front in a Roman Triumph, as they marched in humiliation to their death or enslavement. We prefer to think of ourselves as marching with the conquering general, as part of the army, but sometimes God calls us to suffer persecution and hatred for the sake of His Name. Count yourself dead to sin, dead to your own ambitions, and dead to the world, and you will participate in Christ's victory parade, marching as the aroma of Christ in this world.

Eric Mattie:

“The greatest difficulty in conversion is to win the heart to God; and the greatest difficulty after conversion is to keep the heart with God.” - John Flavel

To keep your heart with God is a Christian believer's great spiritual task. Attending to our heart's rebirth in Christ, is a persevering practice, to remember the Gospel (2 Tim. 2:8), fix our eyes in Jesus (Heb. 12:2), place our hope in God (Ps 42:11), stand fast in truth (1 Cor. 16:13), and live in a loving manner towards God and others (Mt. 22:37-40). Such a practice never come easy in the environments of tough times, hardship, trials or suffering.

Yet it is the very times God calls our attention to

“Keep your heart with all vigilance,
for from it flow the springs of life.”

Because this is found in the wisdom book of Proverbs 4:23, ESV, we understand that it would be wise for a God-fearing woman or man, to heed this advice.

As with all matters of the heart, we put our attention to matters of the heart, through prayer and bible reading. The Word will show us our heart Heb. 4:12 and the Spirit can comfort our greatest vulnerabilities we cast to him. John 14:16-18. It's best we just be real.

Prayer and bible reading can seem like the cliche Sunday School answer. But is there any greater source we are to commune with in order to live in our weakness and gain his strength? 2 Cor. 12:9-10

May the cry of your heart include the prayers of Paul when he prays, “(We have not ceased to pray for you to be) strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy.” (Colossians 1:11; cf. Ephesians 3:16)

As a previous pastor, I’ve preached and taught this. As a fellow believer, I’ve been there, done that and have the scars the Jesus has healed.

I’m here to encourage you: Don’t neglect to attend to your heart through the help of the Holy Spirit. God will be faithful. Even in hardship. Even in the darkness. Even in the dry times.

For his promise can be trust:

“Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you.” James 4:8

“Call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known.” Jeremiah 33:3 (ESV)

Boma:

Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. ( 2 Timothy 2:3 )

Only God has the full picture of His plan for us.

We might not understand everything He calls us to but it will always be in our best interest to follow Him.

He knows the plan and He knows how to bring it to pass.

He has called us to endure hardness—

To not refuse His pruning.

To not resist the refiner's fire.

It's not an easy call to walk in. On our own, it is impossible. But with His help, we can do everything He has called us to do.

Let us submit to Him and finish the work He has started in our lives.

Let us continue to trust Him, through every hard place, knowing that He cannot fail. He will not fail us.

No one who puts trust in God will ever be ashamed.

We can endure hardness.

We can walk the narrow path.

We can stand in this fight for our lives.

And we can do it all with joyful expectation of the fulfillment and manifestation of His faithfulness in our own lives.

We too will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.

So let us continue to abide in Him, following Him and doing everything He tells us to, even when we do not understand.

Let us encourage one other, lending a hand, as God enables us, to fellow soldiers who might be floundering in this calling and fight.

We are not alone.

We are not without help.

We can do all things through Christ who strengthens us. ( Philippians 4:13 )

Let us take advantage of every resource God has provided and, having done all, let us stand.

We cannot fail because God never fails.

But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you. ( 1 Peter 5:10 )

As we conclude this journey together, remember that endurance isn't just about surviving—it's about thriving in Christ through every season. Each contributor has shared from their heart and experience, offering not just wisdom but testimony to God's faithfulness. The battle may be fierce, but we serve a God who has already won the ultimate victory. Whatever you face today—whether it's temptation, spiritual attack, a season of waiting, or seemingly unbearable hardship—stand firm in the knowledge that you are never alone. Your endurance matters not because it earns God's love, but because it displays His power working through you. May you walk forward with renewed strength, steadfast faith, and unexpected joy, knowing that every step of obedience echoes into eternity. The battle is real, but so is His presence with you in it.

Allow me to pray for everyone who has read these articles:

Father, thank You for Your amazing love that transforms everything! Lord, we're not just surviving battles—we're becoming like Jesus through them! Thank You that this isn't about our strength but about Your life flowing through us.

Jesus, we're so overwhelmed by Your goodness. You've already won every battle we'll ever face! We don't have to try to get a victory—we're walking FROM victory because of what You've done! That's the gospel!

Holy Spirit, we ask You to open the eyes of our hearts right now. Let everyone reading these words see who they really are in Christ—sons and daughters completely loved, completely accepted, completely empowered by grace.

Father, I thank You that endurance isn't about white-knuckling through pain—it's about discovering who You've already made us to be! It's about Your identity working through us! We're not waiting for breakthrough—we ARE the breakthrough because You live in us!

Lord, would You wash away every lie that says we're just barely making it. Replace it with the truth that we're more than conquerors through Christ who loves us! Not because of what we do, but because of what You've done!

We release right now any striving, any fear, any need to perform. And we receive Your perfect love that casts out all fear. We receive the joy that is our strength even in the hardest places.

Thank You, Father, that nothing can separate us from Your love. Nothing! Not hardship, not pain, not waiting, not anything we face in this world. We are secure in You forever.

In Jesus' powerful, beautiful, victorious name we pray!

Amen!

-Dan

Thank You for Walking With Us

We hope this series has encouraged you to remain steadfast, no matter what season you’re in. You are not alone, and God’s grace is sufficient for every battle. If this series has blessed you, consider sharing it with someone else who may need strength for the journey.

Let us know in the comments: What stood out to you most? How has God helped you stand firm in your own battles?

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