April 29 – The Power of Patient Endurance

Romans 15:4 –
"For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope." (NIV)

SITREP:
Where do you turn for motivation when you feel like you’re the only one pushing through the fight? Scripture is full of stories of perseverance. Let these examples encourage you to keep pushing forward in faith.

Paul wrote this letter to the believers in Rome—a church made up of Jews and Gentiles navigating new ground in their walk with Christ. Many of them were under pressure, facing both cultural opposition and personal hardship. Paul’s message in Romans 15:4 was simple and powerful: you’re not the first to fight this battle, and you’re not fighting alone.

Scripture is more than ancient text—it’s a battle log filled with field reports from faithful warriors. When Paul says everything written before was for our benefit, he’s pointing us to men and women who stood firm, endured trials, and overcame through God’s power.

• “Everything that was written in the past was written to teach us…” – These aren’t just stories. They’re tactical lessons.
• “…so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures…” – Their pain, perseverance, and victories give us a training manual for how to stand under pressure.
• “…and the encouragement they provide we might have hope.” – Hope isn’t soft. It’s the fuel that keeps a warrior going when the enemy closes in.

From Noah to David, Esther to Elijah, Paul to Peter, and Christ Himself—Scripture is filled with firsthand accounts of endurance under fire. Each one is proof that if God carried them through, He’ll do the same for you.

How This Applies to a Soldier’s Faith:
As a warrior, you train with those who’ve gone before you. You learn from past conflicts, you memorize proven tactics, and you build confidence from historical victories. Spiritually, it’s the same. Romans 15:4 is your field manual reminder to study the battles already fought and won.

• “Everything… was written to teach us.”
• Don’t waste the wisdom written in blood, sweat, and prayer. Scripture gives insight from warriors like Moses, Daniel, and Paul—men who walked through darkness and came out standing.
• “Endurance taught in the Scriptures…”
• God doesn’t just tell you to persevere—He shows you how through the lives of His people. Their faith wasn’t theory—it was combat-tested.
• “Encouragement… so we might have hope.”
• When morale drops, you look to stories of past triumph. The Bible is full of them. Let their endurance rekindle yours.

This verse is more than comfort—it’s strategy. Read, learn, and apply. You don’t have to reinvent the tactics. The training has already been passed down.

ENDEX:
A good warrior studies the victories of others to prepare for the battles of their own. Romans 15:4 is your order to dive into Scripture—not just to read it, but to train with it. Every chapter is a lesson in endurance. Every verse is encouragement for the road ahead.

The same God who delivered the faithful before will deliver you.

Stand firm. Learn from their fight. And keep moving forward.

AAR (After Action Review):
Have you drawn strength from a specific story in Scripture during a tough season of your life? Share it. Someone else may need to know they’re not the first to face what they’re walking through—and that victory is possible.

Make your voice count—share what you’ve lived.

Share your experiences in the comments below. Your words could encourage someone else walking a similar path.

If you're comfortable, include as much or as little personal detail as you’d like. We suggest:

• Name
• Veteran, Retired, Family Member etc.
• Service Branch
• Years of Service (or Deployment Dates and Locations)

Every story matters—and yours might be exactly what someone else needs to hear.