Not Easy

This morning, I found an article with some verses on determination, strength, endurance, and perseverance here:

https://walkinlove.com/blogs/walk-in-love/10-bible-verses-about-determination-and-strength

But my favorite verse that they didn’t reference is:

We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.
Romans 5:3‭-‬5 NLT

And our morning devotional was about the value of not isolating in times of trial, but ther value of teamwork and fellowship:

Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble. Likewise, two people lying close together can keep each other warm. But how can one be warm alone? A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken.
Ecclesiastes 4:9‭-‬12 NLT

Lord, it would be foolish of us to ask you for more trials so that we might grow in strength and endurance — to what end would that serve unless we are seeking to glorify ourselves? But Lord, when we are already suffering, when we see how short we have fallen from glorifying you alone with our lives, when we find ourselves hopeless and isolated by the snares of the enemy, help us to turn to you for the victory and to find you in those around us. Help us to not isolate where we ate more prone to depression and anxiety, but help us to be genuine and transparent with those who love us. Don’t let the enemy convince us that those who love us are against us, or that our challenges are heavy and burdensome and must be quietly squirreled away to fester instead of shared and lightened. If we must suffer, let us suffer well for your glory — but let joy and peace and hope and faith and live reign abundant in our lives as a testimony of your faithfulness, oh Lord. We give you all the glory and praise. Amen.