Endurance Comes as a Gift

The reflection by Rev. Jeanne Randall-Bodman presented on Sunday, November 16, 2025.

Endurance is a tricky word. We think of it as solitary and internal, something we can will ourselves or force ourselves to do. But endurance is not born just of our own strength. We are not called on to clench our jaws and ball up our fists, and will ourselves through on our own power, day after day. Endurance is born out of trust in God to buoy us and enable us; enable us to keep going, to rest and move forward. This goes against all our cultural scripts about what strength is, and what courage is, and what endurance means.

Liberating Words:

• Isaiah 65: 17 - 25

• Luke 21: 5 - 19