Shortcuts.
We all look for them—Shortcuts to losing weight. Shortcuts to a workout routine. Shortcuts to success. Shortcuts to happiness. Shortcuts to_______ (fill in the blank).
The problem with shortcuts are, they’re usually short-lived.
I think what we really need to ‘run this race called life’ (1 Corinthians 9:24), is ENDURANCE. We need endurance physically, mentally and spiritually.

“Life’s a marathon, not a sprint.” ~Phillip C. McGraw

To run a marathon, you must endure. And my friends, there are no shortcuts to endurance. You sure can try, but as J.R.R. Tolkin said, “Shortcuts make long delays.”
Take a look at the dictionary definition below.

Endurance:  1)the ability or strength to continue or last, especially despite fatigue,stress, or   other adverse conditions; stamina.2)lasting quality; duration  3)something endured, as a hardship; trial.

I also think that we all realize that we need endurance in this life. But we may not want it because we associate it with hard work for a looong period of time.

Let’s face it. Life is work. Period.

We really need to come to terms with that. But work is not bad. Work means to produce or to accomplish. And those are good things, right?

Whether you’re looking for endurance physically, mentally or spiritually—the answer is the same.

Endurance takes time, patience, and determination.
And with God’s help we can do it! The rewards will bless us in this life and in eternity.
James 1:3-4 NLT.
“For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.”