The First GiftSample

The Gift of Endurance

My favorite memory as a kid would have to be time spent in the swimming pool. My dad taught me how to swim at age 5. I remember the first thing he taught me how to do was tread water. I remember my arms and legs grew tired as I tread to keep my head above water. This was the least fun part about learning to swim, but I believe it’s the most important because you need to be able to keep your head above water in difficult situations and it creates a foundation for endurance. 

Each time I wanted to stop, my dad would push me to keep going because he knew I could withstand the pain to achieve my goal. This set a foundation for me as I transitioned into swimming competitively. I could endure the pain that was to come from all the long practices, exercises, and exertion of energy during swim meets.

Swimming is a sport that requires you to use every part of your body. Not only that, but swimming also required you to submerge yourself into a large body of water. You can’t say that you’re just going to stick your feet in the water nor can you say that you won’t go past a specific foot of water and expect to get anywhere. Swimming required me to go beyond my limits. I had to endure many things such as the uncertainty of swim meets, yearly tryouts, qualifying for finals, the occasional cramp in the middle of a race, team rivalries, and even self-doubt. Enduring through these challenges allowed me to grow as a person and find an outlet that helped me process life and experience freedom in a new way.

Jesus has given us the spirit of endurance to be able to withstand the wiles of the devil. As a father, the enemy is going to try to do everything in his power to make you forsake your duties as a father and spiritual leader of your household. Satan wants you to give up because he knows that what you’re holding on to is valuable. Blessings are attached to hard work. When Jesus performed miracles, it took endurance from the believer to have survived their current circumstances to reach him. When our wives give birth, it’s not going to be easy (to say the least), but it’s going to be worth it. This is the same way you must view fatherhood.

There are going to be moments when times are hard during the pregnancy and afterward. Yet, we have to endure with and for our child. Persevere through the sleepless nights filled with crying, bottle feedings, burping the baby, changing their soiled diapers, changing their spit-up filled clothes, and countless soothing techniques. Persevere through the thoughts of worthlessness, self-doubt, shortcomings, and second-guessing to embark upon the joys of fatherhood.

Uncommen Questions: 

What’s the most challenging part of preparing for fatherhood? 

Why do you keep going?

Scripture References:
James 1:2-3
Colossians 1:11