Remember those earlier days…when you stood your ground in the face of suffering  (Hebrews 10:32 NIV).

Life hurts.  It’s not like Jesus didn’t warn us.  “In this world you will have trouble.”  But “take heart,” He reminds us.  “I have overcome the world” (John 16:33).   I need to stay connected to Jesus if I hope to stand my ground in the spiritual fight.

To stand one’s ground is to endure .  The Greek word for endure is hypomeno.  It comes from two words:  hypo or “under”, and meno, “to remain.”   Meno is the same word Jesus uses when He tells us to abide in him (John 15:7).  So to endure is to “remain under”  a painful  trial with grace.   It’s bearing up under a load of trouble with a tranquil mind.

Will you be able to stand your ground when trouble hits?  You can’t endure apart from Jesus.  Abide in Him daily.  Rely on the Holy Spirit. Stay filled up with God’s Word.  Pray always.  And don’t travel alone.

And remember: If you don’t abide in the light, you can’t  endure in the dark.