Endurance is the secret

Where did we get the idea that we'd be appreciated, affirmed, and admired? The Saviour Himself taught that blessings are reserved for the persecuted, for those who are reviled, for those against whom folks say all kind of evil... falsely... It sure is easy to forget those words and get soft, becoming too tender, too sensitive.

Fragility is not a virtue extolled in Scripture. Saints with thin skin get distracted and shortly thereafter, discouraged. There is a long, demanding course to be run, most of which takes place in the trenches and with our applause. I suggest we lower our expectations as we intensify our determination and head for the goal.

Endurance is the secret, not popularity.