We also pray that you will be strengthened with all his glorious power so you will have all the endurance and patience you need. May you be filled with joy, always thanking the Father. He has enabled you to share in the inheritance that belongs to his people, who live in the light. (‭Colossians‬ ‭1‬:‭11-12‬ NLT)

Over the past few months I’ve been having a reoccurring tooth ache. I’ve been to the dentist several times on attempt to figure out what the problem was. I’ve had X-ray after I X-ray and nothing was found. I’ve changed toothpaste, used oral gel, and several other home remedies only to have temporary relief.

One of my coworkers suggested that it maybe sinuses. I began taking Claritin D and FINALLY I had some relief. So every time my tooth would ache I would take the Claritin and the pain would leave….until last night. Last night I tossed and turned with this tooth ache as I prayed fervently for God to take the pain away. Suddenly, it’s like a light bulb came on. My prayer then changed. I told God if You choose not to take the pain away right now, Lord just give me strength to endure it because you know how much I can bare!

I would love to tell you that just like that the pain went away, but it didn’t. However God did grant my request. Although the pain did not cease, somewhere during the night I felt strengthened to hold out a little longer! My fight to not let that tooth ache get the best of me intensified! So even as I tossed and turned, I continued to confess God’s power over my situation. And it was His power that gave me the strength I needed in that moment!
Now I hope that none of you have to experience the pain I had with that toothache but understand that even if a situation in your life is getting what seems to be too much for you to handle, all you have to do is ask for God’s strength to endure. It isn’t always God’s will for Him to deliver us out of various circumstances, but it is His will for us to see it through.

 
So as we go throughout this week let our prayer be: God even though things are tough right now, I know that through your power, I’m TOUGHER! Father I pray for your strength to overtake me so that I will gain the power that I need to endure this place!