What the Apostle Paul Taught Us About Endurance That Still Holds Today
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When You Need More Than Motivation
Resilience is everywhere right now. Social media tells us to bounce back,
push through, and keep grinding. But for believers, the kind of strength we
need goes beyond surface-level grit. We need something deeper. We need what I
call Holy Grit—a spiritually rooted kind of resilience that does not
just survive hardship but walks through it with faith, obedience, and hope.
And no one in Scripture models that kind of grit more consistently than
the Apostle Paul.
His letters are more than theology—they are blueprints for endurance.
Paul did not write from comfort. He wrote from prisons, shipwrecks, sleepless
nights, and deep places of suffering. Yet what comes through is not bitterness
or burnout—but bold, Spirit-filled endurance.
In a culture built on instant results and soft commitments, Paul’s words
ground us. They show us what it means to walk out our faith with conviction, to
stay steady when things fall apart, and to keep moving even when we feel like
quitting.
This post will walk through how the writings of Paul give us the
spiritual tools to build Holy Grit—the kind of resilience that lasts.
What Is Holy Grit?
Holy Grit is not the same as human willpower. It is not self-made
strength or stubborn striving. It is Spirit-formed, Scripture-fed,
Christ-centered endurance. Holy Grit is the ability to press on, not just
because you are tough—but because God is trustworthy.
Holy Grit is what happens when you:
- Root your strength in grace, not
performance
- Stay steady in storms without
losing your tenderness
- Follow Jesus faithfully, even
when it costs you
And much of our understanding of this comes from Paul—his example, his
words, and his unwavering trust in God’s promises.
Holy Grit Is Rooted in Grace (2
Corinthians 12:9)
Paul never claimed to be superhuman. In fact, he admitted his
weakness—and pointed to it as the place where God’s power showed up strongest.
“But He said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for power is
perfected in weakness.’ Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my
weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me.”
—2 Corinthians 12:9 (NASB)
Holy Grit begins when we stop performing and start depending.
It is not about looking strong. It is about being surrendered.
When you feel like you have nothing left to give—that is where God’s
strength meets you.
Holy Grit Endures Through Trial
(Romans 5:3–4)
Paul does not sugarcoat suffering. He acknowledges its reality—but also
its role.
“And not only this, but we also celebrate in our tribulations, knowing
that tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character;
and proven character, hope.”
—Romans 5:3–4 (NASB)
We often ask for God to take us out of the trial.
Paul reminds us that sometimes, God is using the trial to bring something out
of us.
Resilience does not grow in ease—it grows in the hard places.
And through Paul’s example, we learn this: you can feel pain and still
produce fruit.
Holy Grit Keeps You from Giving Up
(Galatians 6:9)
Endurance is not glamorous. It is often hidden. Quiet. Overlooked. But in
Paul’s words, it becomes powerful.
“Let’s not become discouraged in doing good, for in due time we will
reap, if we do not become weary.”
—Galatians 6:9 (NASB)
Holy Grit is not about intensity—it is about consistency.
Paul’s words remind us that what you sow in obedience will not be wasted.
Even when it feels like nothing is changing, God is working. Keep sowing. Keep
showing up.
Because endurance is never in vain.
Holy Grit Anchors You in the Gospel
(Philippians 3:13–14)
Paul had reasons to stay stuck—shame from his past, pain from his
present. But he did not live there. He pressed forward, anchored in the truth
of the gospel.
“Brothers and sisters, I do not regard myself as having taken hold of it
yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to
what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of
God in Christ Jesus.”
—Philippians 3:13–14 (NASB)
Resilience does not mean you ignore what has happened.
It means you do not let it define your future.
Paul teaches us that we are not prisoners of our past—we are people of
promise.
Holy Grit Clings to Hope (2
Corinthians 4:8–9)
If anyone had reason to quit, it was Paul. But he did not. Why? Because
his hope was not tied to outcomes. It was tied to Christ.
“We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not
despairing; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.”
—2 Corinthians 4:8–9 (NASB)
Paul’s life was a testimony of this truth:
You can be pressed and still preserved.
You can be hurt and still whole.
You can be knocked down and still rise.
That is Holy Grit.
Holy Grit Lives for Eternity (2
Timothy 4:7–8)
At the end of his life, Paul did not measure his success by comfort or
applause. He measured it by faithfulness.
“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept
the faith; in the future there is reserved for me the crown of righteousness…”
—2 Timothy 4:7–8a (NASB)
This is the goal of Holy Grit—not just survival, but spiritual legacy.
Not just getting through, but finishing well.
You are not just enduring for today.
You are investing in eternity.
How to Use Paul’s Words to Build Your
Own Holy Grit
Paul’s letters are not just stories. They are tools. Here is how to use
them daily:
a. Read His Words Through the Lens of
Endurance
Look for every reference to patience, perseverance, and strength.
Create a “Resilience Journal” where you write down verses that speak to your
heart. Let them become your battle prayers.
b. Pray His Prayers as Your Own
Paul prayed boldly. Begin to adopt his language in your own conversations
with God. For example:
“I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened…”
—Ephesians 1:18 (NASB)
Make that your daily ask: “God, open my eyes today. Help me see with
endurance and walk in grace.”
c. Let His Example Set Your Pace
Paul did not rush. He endured. Let his life reframe how you view delays
and disappointments.
You are not behind.
You are being built.
Final Word: Why This Still Matters
We live in a time where everything demands urgency. Results. Instant
strength. But Holy Grit is countercultural. It is a steady, obedient walk of
faith that trusts God even when the path is unclear.
If you are tired—you are in the right place.
If you are stretched—you are being shaped.
If you are questioning whether you can keep going—you already are.
Paul’s words remind us that endurance is not about being the strongest in
the room. It is about staying when you could have walked away.
“Let us hold firmly to the confession of our hope without wavering, for
He who promised is faithful.”
—Hebrews 10:23 (NASB)
You are being shaped by grace.
You are being strengthened through Christ.
And you are being led by the same God who sustained Paul—and still sustains
you.