Proverbs 24:10 teaches us this: “If you are slack in the day of distress, your strength is limited.” Mark 13:13 teaches us, “You will be hated by all because of My name, but the one who endures to the end, he will be saved.” Unlike much of today’s comfortable teaching, Scripture makes it clear that true faith requires a decision to endure hardship and remain steadfast. Our commitment must be based on a deliberate, thoughtful choice, not on the promise of an easy life. As Christ said in Luke 14:25-34, we must count the cost of following Him, knowing that discipleship is demanding and sacrificial. This is the foundation He gave His disciples:

” Now large crowds were going along with Him; and He turned and said to them, “If anyone comes to Me, and does not [n]hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be My disciple. Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple. For which one of you, when he wants to build a tower, does not first sit down and calculate the cost to see if he has enough to complete it? Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who observe it begin to ridicule him, saying, ‘This man began to build and was not able to finish.’ Or what king, when he sets out to meet another king in battle, will not first sit down and consider whether he is strong enough with ten thousand men to encounter the one coming against him with twenty thousand?  Or else, while the other is still far away, he sends a delegation and asks for terms of peace. So then, none of you can be My disciple who does not give up all his own possessions.”

I committed my life to following Christ over 34 years ago, and there has never been a time when I felt that it was too much or restrictive. I thank God that when He decided to remove the veil of darkness from over me, He placed me in a body of believers who were truly equipped to build up the saints. The foremost concern was that I understood the commitment I had made to become a Christian. It was not that God was going to make all of my problems go away, or I would get that big house, with the fancy car, and never be sick again, and live in paradise on earth. My best life now was not rooted in the benefits of the Christian prosperity myth; it was rooted in becoming transformed and embracing a whole new life that set me apart from the life I once lived. It was not about me; it was about Christ. Teaching a self-needs faith is one of the greatest dangers within the Christian church. Faith in Christ is about understanding the great love God has poured out on mankind through Christ’s sacrifice on the Cross. One of the greatest examples that Christ has provided us is the reality of eternal life. His resurrection guaranteed that those who committed themselves to following Him would have a better life awaiting them.

John 6:67-69, “So Jesus said to the twelve, “You do not want to go away also, do you?” ⁶⁸ Simon Peter answered Him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have words of eternal life. We have believed and have come to know that You are the Holy One of God.” In coming to Christ, we receive all we need to endure. He empowers us by the Holy Spirit, who grants us spiritual fortitude to overcome the enemy and guards us from the destructive and deceptive works of sin. He also gives us the Word of God, which reveals who God is, who we are, and His purpose for us. When Christ died, the penalty of sin was paid for all people—past, present, and future. Romans 10:17 teaches that faith comes by hearing the Word of Christ. Christ is the Word, and all Scripture points to Him. When our faith is rooted in Christ, we are called to be grounded in His Word and led by His Spirit. God grants us access to His throne so we can call on Him in times of trial and tribulation. When storms and struggles arise, God knows and uses them to refine us and make us more like Him. But many fall away when following Christ becomes hard and costly. I love the disciples’ response when Christ asked if they, too, would leave Him.

That is the key to having a faith that endures: knowing God, understanding that Christ is God, and submitting to His leadership as He alone leads us into eternal life. Inspiring Life Books is committed to true discipleship, equipping our dear brothers and sisters to recognize the difference between genuine faith and surface-level commitment. Our books, journals, and online classes are designed to encourage you as you grow in faith. Today, the word “Christian” is often used so casually that it risks losing its true meaning. Some claim the title as a label, while others do so because they attend church or participate in church activities. Still others define their Christianity by their denomination. In contrast, none of these outward affiliations gives the soul the endurance necessary to navigate life’s challenges. True endurance comes only through Christ, who has overcome life’s difficulties. Everyone who comes to Christ should be discipled in the spiritual requirements of faith—those essentials that lead to eternal life and not to a false assurance based on human tradition, instead of Christ. True faith in Christ requires trusting God. Remember what Proverbs 24:10 teaches us, “If you are slack in the day of distress, your strength is limited.” If we fall away just because we experience a trial, a tragedy, or a storm, our faith was limited to begin with. Be blessed!