Endurance

"Therefore we also, since we are surrounded
by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay
aside every weight and the sin which so
easily ensnares us and let us run with
endurance the race that is set before us."
Hebrews 12:1

Endurance is very important to faith.

When Jesus spoke to the fig tree, in
Mark 11, He immediately received what He
said.
Because Jesus said, "whatever things you
ask when you pray, believe that your receive
them"
Mark 11:24

Receive is in the present tense.
The NASB says, "have received".
The receiving isn't future tense.

Jesus immediately received what He said, but
He didn't immediately see what He said.
Seeing it would come later.

Jesus, knowing that faith requires patience,
simply went on about His business.
He continued to believe what He said.
He also continued to believe that He received
what He said.
It was not until the next day, though, when
He and the disciples were passing by again,
that they actually saw that the fig tree had
withered.

Jesus received the answer immediately.
He saw it come to pass later.
In between there was endurance.

If we believe the Word and walk by faith,
exercising endurance, we will eventually see
the fulfillment of what we have believed for.

But if we walk by sight, letting circumstances
and emotions dictate how we are going to
think and what we are going to expect, then
we will probably never see what we have
been believing for come to pass...all for the
lack of endurance.

When we have exercised our faith in the
promises of God, we keep ourselves focused
on His Word.
We can't let anything else that we see or hear
trouble us in any way.

Our circumstances must eventually line up
with the Word of God and our faith in it,
knowing that we will see it happen.