Endure
How does God give us grace and courage to carry on? In Endure, Daniel Ritchie exhorts you to building faith for the long run.
Our Calling as Christians
Ritchie begins the book by mentioning that he was born without arms. He became a Christian at the age of 15, changing the direction of his life. While sanctification is a slow process, culture had taught him differently. He expected change at a quick and convenient pace. He learned that God does not work this way, and he encourages us to be still and see that God takes his time with his clay.
Our calling as Christians is to a life of endurance. With Scriptural support, Ritchie shows us how to run the race of faith. The subject is obviously personal to Ritchie. With Paul as a primary example, he shows how he endured in the face of trials. In affliction and hardships, he rested on the sovereignty of God and grace in Jesus.
Gifts of Grace
I was most moved to see how true friends are a gift of grace that only God can give. We were made for community and kinship. Prayer is powerful. And the Word of God is what gets us through as a true source of strength in times of weakness.
This book is beautifully practical. I was most encouraged to see how we can honor God when we don’t know the future, and when change can suddenly come. Ritchie encourages us to plan and dream, but also make room for sovereign appointments.
God Does Not Grow Weary
Ritchie shows how he takes opportunities that God brings to him to share the Good News with others. He gives concrete steps to help you prepare your own testimony. I am motivated to make the most of my time and steward my life for Christ.
This book is not sugarcoated. Ritchie presents a case study in Abraham as an example of faith when we cannot see. The journey is long and hard, but the cost is worth it. He also shows us Joseph, who experienced great calamity while clinging to God who was sovereign in his suffering. The book ends by pointing to the true and better Joseph. Jesus is our suffering servant. God does not grow weary. I am moved to worship – and strengthened to run.
I received a media copy of Endure and this is my honest review. Find more of my book reviews and follow Dive In, Dig Deep on Instagram - my account dedicated to Bibles and books to see the beauty of the Bible and the role of reading in the Christian life. To read all of my book reviews and to receive all of the free eBooks I find on the web, subscribe to my free newsletter.