February 11

being strengthened with all power according to His glorious might so that you may have full endurance and patience, and joyfully — Col 1:11 BSB

The apostle prays for the Colossians that they may be “strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, unto all patience and long-suffering with joyfulness.” There is a difference between enduring with a face strained by every muscle and wrinkle, seeking sympathy, and enduring the cross, despising the shame, for the joy set before us.

Some trees in the garden of the Lord are not affected by heat and do not worry during droughts, but continue yielding fruit. Let us set our faces toward the sunrise and use the clouds that come our way to create rainbows. The opportunity to rejoice in tribulation and learn patience will not last much longer. In heaven, we will no longer have the opportunity to learn long-suffering. If we don’t learn it here, we will be without that brightest crown forever, and we may wish we could return to these very circumstances we now try so hard to escape.