January 12 | Endurance | How Endurance Proves Our Faith | Barry Rodriguez

The Apostle Paul knew a thing or two about hardships. From prison to shipwrecks to rival teachers constantly undermining his ministry, Paul faced persistent struggles in his effort to be faithful to God’s call on his life. In 2 Corinthians, Paul addresses believers in Corinth who began to see all these hardships as a stain on his reputation (maybe God wasn’t blessing Paul’s ministry?). Quite the contrary, Paul explains. Our hypomonē in the face of obstacles is the proof that we are God’s ministers. In fact, facing (and enduring) hardship is part and parcel with what it means to join Christ in his kingdom mission in a broken world.