Endure Until Victory Comes

By Sr. Dr. James R. Love

ENDURE UNTIL VICTORY COMES IS A JOURNEY DISCOVERY, WITH THE HELP OF SCRIPTURE, TO LEARN HOW TO OVERCOME PAIN AND DISAPPOINTMENT. THE FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLE OF REALITY IN THIS FALLEN WORLD IS TO LEARN TO ENDURE HARDSHIP. YOU WILL DISCOVER THAT VICTORY COMES WHEN YOU LEARN THE SECRET OF HOW ENDURE.

Be encouraged in the midst of the

• Language: English
• Publisher: Trilogy Christian Publishing
• Release date: Jan 17, 2024
• ISBN: 9798890415349

Sr. Dr. James R. Love

Dr. James R. Love, Sr., was ordained in 1983 before going to pastor Faith Tabernacle UHCA and founding Love the Word Church. As president of Love the Word Ministries, Inc., he seeks to bridge the instructional divide between Sunday school and seminary. Further, he is an adjunct professor at several colleges. He earned a doctorate degree from Westminster Theological Seminary.

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

In honor of my incredible mother, Vernell Bowie, who is the quintessential woman of faith who despite great personal loss…the recent deaths of her youngest son and her youngest daughter, continues to be a beacon of hope and inspiration.

A book typically involves a cadre of contributors, most of whom will never know how significant a role they played in the author’s experience in writing the book. I want to take a moment to highlight a few people who have contributed to this book. For some, the word thanks is jaded, overused, and has lost its significance. The etymology of the word is from the Germanic thanka which means to remember fondly; to think of with gratitude. So, I wish to offer my profound thanks to all of you who have inspired me!

To my sister Tonya Love-Washington, who fought a courageous fight, rest in peace, sis; you ran a good race! Also, to my sister Melody Love who was always at her side, thanks for being more than a sister but a caretaker.

To Malachi Love, my nephew, I have your back and I will always be available when you need me.

To Evelyn Brooks, without whose tireless efforts, this work would not have been possible. She meticulously typed my handwritten notes and offered valuable insight and advice.

To the wonderful people at Connect Church, who allowed me to work out my thoughts publicly. Your feedback was an invaluable aid to the development of this book.

Finally, to my loving wife and faithful partner in the ministry, whom I affectionately call Management, thanks is not good enough to express my profound appreciation. You are my rock and a constant help when I am down! This work would not have been possible without your input. 

INTRODUCTION

It was on this God-awful day that my heart sank and my knees buckled. You see, that was the day my sister Melody called me, hysterical about her discovery that my baby sister, Tonya, was dead. She struggled for several years with heart and renal issues.

I mentioned this sad news because it is the motivation for this book. I have dedicated this book in memory of my baby sister who was a wonderful person! The title of the book reflects my thoughts about how life is often filled with pain and disappointment, as well as joy and happiness.

In this book, I intend to take you on a journey of discovery, with the help of Scripture, of how to overcome pain and disappointment. In this book, I want to encourage you to endure hardship because this is the fundamental principle of reality in this fallen world. I have discovered that victory comes when you learn the secret of how to endure.

When I think about the word endure, I want to look beyond the dictionary definition: The ability to withstand pain. Indeed, endurance includes this, but I want to take it a step further. To endure is the ability to accept the situation for what it is. It is what it is! Since there is no way out, my attitude is simple, I will wait until my change comes: that is…my miracle, my breakthrough, my victory! What I have learned on this journey is that there are certain things or situations you cannot finagle, scheme, or get around; you just have to endure them until victory comes!

Now, do not misconstrue this as a defeatist approach: Let’s throw in the towel or wave the white flag. No! This is a realistic approach. As I mentioned above, some things you just have to go through! In fact, with this kind of mindset, all doubt is rejected. You know, doubt sees the obstacles, faith sees the way; doubt sees the darkest night, faith sees the day; doubt dreads to take a step, faith soars on high; doubt questions, who believes? Faith answers I.

Lest you think the idea of enduring is an abstract academic construct. The idea is found throughout the whole of sacred Scripture. Let me cite just a few examples. From the New King James Version: You have need of endurance (Hebrews 10:36). Indeed we count them blessed who endured (James 4:11). Therefore, endure all things for the sake of the elect (2 Timothy 2:10). What persecutions I endured (2 Timothy 3:11). Therefore, I conclude that it is a biblical principle, worthy of consideration.

So, my personal journey of discovering the idea of endurance came during a challenging season of sickness in my life. Actually, it began during the COVID crisis. My younger brother, Dameon, died of COVID complications. Of course, this devastated our family. He left behind a devoted wife and two daughters from a previous marriage. The really sad aspect of this is that our family could not travel to Atlanta, Georgia to attend his funeral service because of COVID travel restrictions.

During this same period, in 2021, my Uncle Cleo died, succumbing to a long bout with sickness. In addition, my sister’s only son, Christian, died shortly after.

In the spring of 2021, I was diagnosed with stage four kidney disease. I remember so vividly asking my doctor, How did I pass stages two and three? Neither would I know that this was the first in a series of health challenges that would buffet me in the next few years. Later that year, I spent three days at the University of Maryland Regional Hospital because my blood pressure was elevated. The doctors explained to me that due to my kidney being limited to just above twenty percent functionality, my heart was working extremely hard to pump blood and fluid through my body. As a result, I had an accelerated heart rate and was diagnosed with atrial fibrillation. I was admitted to Washington Hospital Center to correct this condition. The cardiologist explained the procedure, which resets the heart rhythm.

While I was experiencing all of that, there was another challenge that I had to deal with. This was the reality that I had only twenty percent kidney function and my ankles and calves were constantly swollen. It got so uncomfortable that on many occasions if I walked five or ten steps I had to stop to catch my breath! Up to this point, I was still somewhat active, exercising, but now all that came to a halt. My nephrologist recommended peritoneal dialysis immediately.

For a person accustomed to activity, this stuff was a huge blow. Now I am limited and restricted, especially in any strenuous physical activity, such as mowing the lawn or running. The feeling that you are not what you used to be hits you emotionally like a ton of bricks. So, what do you do when you feel like you are experiencing a Job season? Job’s response was, If a man dies, shall he live again? All the days of my hard service I will wait until my change comes (Job 14:14).

I am going to endure all of this stuff which has been thrown at me until my change comes. This is the message of this book; life is often unfair and unreasonable. Job was right when he said, Man born of a woman is of a few days and full of trouble (Job 14:1). As I said earlier, there are some things that life will throw at you that you will not be able to wiggle, finagle, or talk your way out of! At such moments, you have to endure it until victory comes.

Part 1:

Why Endure

Chapter 1

ENDURE UNTIL

VICTORY COMES

But recall the former days in which after you were illuminated, you endured a great struggle with sufferings: partly while you were made a spectacle both by reproaches and tribulations, and partly while you became companions of