Enduring Faith: Trusting God Through Life's Marathon
Summary
Enduring faith is not a sprint, but a marathon—a journey that requires perseverance, trust, and a willingness to look beyond the comforts and certainties of the present. Abraham and Sarah’s story in Hebrews 11 reminds us that faith is not about having all the answers or always feeling strong, but about trusting God even when the path is unclear and the promises seem impossible. Abraham was called to leave everything familiar, to step into the unknown, and to value God above even his most precious relationships and dreams. This kind of faith is marked by an acute situational awareness: a recognition that this world is not our true home, and that our ultimate hope lies in what God has promised, not in what we can see or control.
Enduring faith also expects to be tested. God’s tests are not designed to crush us, but to reveal and refine what is at the center of our hearts. Abraham’s test—being asked to offer Isaac—was not just about obedience, but about whether he would trust God’s character and promises even when they seemed to contradict the command. In our own lives, we face similar moments when God’s wisdom seems at odds with our desires or understanding. These are opportunities to let God be God, to trust that the tension is His to resolve, and to refuse to let anything else become our “only”—the thing we cannot imagine living without.
Crucially, enduring faith is unashamedly confident in God’s power. Abraham reasoned that God could even raise the dead if necessary to keep His promises. Our faith is not in our ability to understand or control outcomes, but in God’s ability to do what He has said—even when it defies human logic. The Lord’s Table is a powerful reminder of this: just as Abraham’s willingness to offer Isaac pointed forward to Christ, so the bread and cup point us to the ultimate sacrifice that secures our hope. Jesus’ death and resurrection prove that not even death can thwart God’s purposes. As we participate in communion, we are invited to recenter our lives on Christ, to let go of idols, and to receive the nourishment we need to endure in faith until the end.
Key Takeaways
- Enduring faith requires acute situational awareness, recognizing that our true home is not in this world. Like Abraham, we are called to look forward to God’s promises rather than clinging to what is familiar, comfortable, or even most precious to us. This perspective frees us to obey God, even when it means stepping into the unknown. [44:18]
- The journey of faith is a marathon, not a sprint, and we should expect our faith to be tested. God’s tests are not meant to expose our failures, but to help us grow and to reveal what truly holds the center of our hearts. When God’s commands seem to contradict His promises or our desires, we are invited to trust Him more deeply. [57:55]
- God’s tests often reveal our tendency to make good things into ultimate things—our “onlys.” Whether it’s family, career, or personal dreams, anything that takes the place of God in our hearts becomes an idol. Enduring faith is willing to surrender even the most precious gifts back to God, trusting that He alone is worthy of our ultimate allegiance. [47:21]
- Confidence in God’s power is essential for enduring faith. Abraham’s willingness to obey, even when he didn’t understand, was rooted in the belief that God could overcome any obstacle—including death itself. Our faith is not in our own understanding, but in the God who raises the dead and keeps His promises, no matter how impossible they seem. [01:10:17]
- Communion is a means of spiritual nourishment and recalibration. The Lord’s Table reminds us that Jesus’ sacrifice is the foundation of our hope and the source of our endurance. As we partake, we are called to recenter our lives on Christ, to let go of idols, and to trust that God will sustain us until the end. [01:18:59]
Youtube Chapters
[00:00] - Welcome
[01:10] - Announcements and Ministry Expo
[05:30] - Bible and Breakfast Hour Details
[08:00] - Scripture Memory: Hebrews 12:1-2
[10:20] - Opening Prayer and Intercessions
[15:00] - Introduction to Hebrews 11 and Enduring Faith
[34:50] - Life as a Marathon: Faith, Marriage, and Growth
[39:37] - What Does Enduring Faith Look Like?
[42:01] - Abraham’s Obedience and Leaving the Familiar
[44:18] - Valuing God Above All Else
[47:21] - The Danger of Clinging to What’s Precious
[49:48] - Looking Forward, Not Backward
[53:03] - The Temptation to Return to Old Ways
[55:11] - Making a Difference While Waiting for Redemption
[57:55] - Expecting Faith to Be Tested
[01:01:56] - Wrestling with God’s Commands and Promises
[01:10:17] - Abraham’s Failures and Growth in Faith
[01:18:59] - Communion: Re-centering on Christ
[01:31:29] - The Bread: Christ’s Sacrifice
[01:33:55] - The Cup: The New Covenant
[01:34:46] - Benediction and Sending Forth
Study Guide
Small Group Bible Study Guide: Enduring Faith (Based on Hebrews 11 and the Life of Abraham & Sarah)
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### Bible Reading
Hebrews 11:8-19 (ESV)
> 8 By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going.
> 9 By faith he went to live in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, living in tents with Isaac and Jacob, heirs with him of the same promise.
> 10 For he was looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose designer and builder is God.
> 11 By faith Sarah herself received power to conceive, even when she was past the age, since she considered him faithful who had promised.
> 12 Therefore from one man, and him as good as dead, were born descendants as many as the stars of heaven and as many as the innumerable grains of sand by the seashore.
> 13 These all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth.
> 14 For people who speak thus make it clear that they are seeking a homeland.
> 15 If they had been thinking of that land from which they had gone out, they would have had opportunity to return.
> 16 But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared for them a city.
> 17 By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises was in the act of offering up his only son,
> 18 of whom it was said, “Through Isaac shall your offspring be named.”
> 19 He considered that God was able even to raise him from the dead, from which, figuratively speaking, he did receive him back.
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### Observation Questions
1. What did God ask Abraham to do, and how did Abraham respond? (Hebrews 11:8-10)
2. According to the passage, what was Abraham “looking forward” to, and how did that affect his choices? (Hebrews 11:10, 13-16)
3. What does the text say about Sarah’s faith and the result of her trust in God? (Hebrews 11:11-12)
4. How does the passage describe the test Abraham faced with Isaac, and what was Abraham’s reasoning in that moment? (Hebrews 11:17-19; [57:55])
---
### Interpretation Questions
1. Why is it significant that Abraham obeyed God “not knowing where he was going”? What does this reveal about the nature of enduring faith? ([42:01])
2. The sermon described enduring faith as having “acute situational awareness”—recognizing that this world is not our true home. How does this perspective change the way a person lives day to day? ([44:18])
3. When God’s commands seem to contradict His promises or our desires, what does it look like to trust God in those moments? ([57:55])
4. The sermon mentioned that God’s tests are not meant to crush us, but to reveal and refine what is at the center of our hearts. How can someone discern if something good in their life has become an “only”—an idol? ([47:21])
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### Application Questions
1. Abraham was willing to leave what was familiar, comfortable, and even most precious to him in order to obey God. Is there something in your life right now that you sense God might be asking you to let go of or hold more loosely? What would it look like to take a step of faith in that area? ([44:18])
2. The sermon talked about the danger of making good things into “ultimate things”—our “onlys.” Can you identify something in your life (family, career, dream, etc.) that you might be tempted to put above God? How can you surrender that to Him this week? ([47:21])
3. When was the last time you felt your faith was being tested—when God’s wisdom seemed at odds with your own desires or understanding? How did you respond, and what did you learn from that experience? ([57:55])
4. The passage says Abraham “reasoned that God could even raise the dead.” Are there situations in your life right now that seem impossible? How can you practice confidence in God’s power, even when you don’t see a way forward? ([01:10:17])
5. The Lord’s Table (communion) is described as a way to recenter our lives on Christ and let go of idols. How can you use communion or another spiritual practice this week to refocus your heart on Jesus? ([01:18:59])
6. The sermon mentioned that enduring faith is a marathon, not a sprint. What are some practical ways you can “run with endurance” in your faith journey this month? ([36:21])
7. Looking back, are there times when you have been tempted to “return” to old habits or ways of thinking? What helps you keep looking forward to God’s promises instead of clinging to the past? ([49:48])
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Closing Prayer Suggestion:
Invite the group to pray for one another, especially for areas where faith is being tested or where it’s hard to let go of “onlys.” Ask God to help each person trust Him more deeply and to keep their eyes fixed on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith.
Devotional
Day 1: Enduring Faith Looks Beyond the Present
Enduring faith means not letting comfort, familiarity, or even what is most precious to us keep us from obeying God. Abraham was called to leave his homeland, his family, and everything familiar, stepping into the unknown simply because God told him to go. He lived in tents, not knowing where he was headed, but trusted that wherever God led was better than what he left behind. This kind of faith values God above all else, even above the things or people we hold most dear. It is a faith that looks forward to God’s promises, not back to what is safe or comfortable. Are you willing to let go of what is familiar or precious if God calls you to something new? [44:18]
Hebrews 11:8-10 (ESV)
By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. By faith he went to live in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, living in tents with Isaac and Jacob, heirs with him of the same promise. For he was looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose designer and builder is God.
Reflection: What is one area of your life where you are clinging to comfort or familiarity instead of stepping out in obedience to God’s leading?
Day 2: Enduring Faith Refuses to Look Back
Those who endure in faith are not consumed with what they have left behind, but are focused on what God has promised ahead. The temptation to look back is strong—whether it’s longing for the simplicity of life before Christ, old habits, or former ways of thinking. But like Abraham and the other heroes of faith, we are called to see ourselves as strangers and exiles on earth, seeking a better homeland. Enduring faith means resisting the urge to return to what is easy or familiar, and instead pressing forward, renewing our minds and clinging to God’s promises. [53:03]
Hebrews 11:13-16 (ESV)
These all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. For people who speak thus make it clear that they are seeking a homeland. If they had been thinking of that land from which they had gone out, they would have had opportunity to return. But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared for them a city.
Reflection: In what ways are you tempted to look back to old habits or ways of thinking, and how can you intentionally set your focus on God’s promises today?
Day 3: Enduring Faith Expects to Be Tested
Enduring faith is not surprised by tests; it expects them. God’s tests often come when His commands seem to contradict His promises or our own wisdom. Abraham was asked to offer up Isaac, the very son through whom God’s promises were to be fulfilled. In moments when obedience to God seems to threaten our happiness, security, or understanding, we are in a test of faith. These tests are not meant to crush us, but to grow us, to reveal where our true trust lies, and to help us recenter our lives on God alone. Even if we have failed tests in the past, like Abraham did, God gives us new opportunities to trust Him. [01:01:56]
Hebrews 11:17-19 (ESV)
By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises was in the act of offering up his only son, of whom it was said, “Through Isaac shall your offspring be named.” He considered that God was able even to raise him from the dead, from which, figuratively speaking, he did receive him back.
Reflection: Where in your life do you sense God’s command is testing your faith, and how can you respond with trust rather than relying on your own understanding?
Day 4: Enduring Faith Is Confident in God’s Power
Enduring faith is unashamedly confident that God’s power is greater than our comprehension and not limited by any obstacle, even death. Abraham reasoned that God could raise Isaac from the dead if necessary, and Sarah believed God would keep His word even when it seemed impossible. God’s power is not bound by our limitations or logic; He is able to do what He has promised, even when we cannot see how. This confidence allows us to obey God even when it doesn’t make sense, trusting that He will make a way. [01:11:02]
Proverbs 3:5-6 (ESV)
Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.
Reflection: What is one situation where you need to stop leaning on your own understanding and instead trust in God’s power to work beyond what you can see?
Day 5: Enduring Faith Recenters on Christ Alone
Enduring faith is nourished and sustained by continually recentering our lives on Christ, removing any idols that try to take His place. The Lord’s Table is a reminder that our hope is found in Jesus’ sacrifice, not in anything else we might be tempted to make central. Just as Abraham was called to offer up what was most precious, we are called to lay down anything that competes with Christ for first place in our hearts. The table is proof that God’s power overcomes even death, and that Jesus’ sacrifice is sufficient for our salvation and endurance. Let this be a time to renew your commitment to Christ and allow Him to be the center of your life. [01:18:59]
Colossians 3:1-4 (ESV)
If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.
Reflection: What is one “Isaac” in your life—something good that you are tempted to make central—that you need to lay down today so that Christ alone is at the center of your heart?
Quotes
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