Being Strengthened for Endurance, Patience, and Joy

We are looking briefly at Paul’s four-part prayer in Colossians 1:9-12. I hope this prayer helps us set Godly goals and priorities in 2026 and that we learn to ask the Lord for the right things this year. The beauty of this prayer is that it gives us specific things to pray for, but it’s broad enough to apply to each of our individual circumstances.

Here’s the full prayer: 

Colossians 1:9-12

“And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him: bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; being strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy; giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light.” 

If you missed the first two parts of this prayer, you can catch up here:

Part 1: Wisdom and Understanding (1:9)

Part 2: To Walk in a Manner Worthy of the Lord (1:10)

Now, we’ll look at Part 3: Being Strengthened for Endurance, Patience, and Joy (1:11)

So far, Paul has taught us to pray to be filled with the knowledge of God’s will through spiritual wisdom and understanding (knowing and understanding Scripture by the Spirit’s help). He explained that we ask for this so we can live to please the Lord by bearing fruit in good works and increasing in the knowledge of God. Now we learn that we also walk worthy and please Him as we use His strength for endurance and patience:

Colossians 1:11

“…being strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy…”

This might be my favorite section of the prayer because it feels almost unbelievable. God will give me His strength according to His glorious might? So I can have endurance and joyful patience? Amazing!

First, we need to recognize that in a world that loves fast, instant, and immediate, endurance and patience are not sought after or even applauded. Yet, we know these are the very things we need (and that exceed our abilities) when life is difficult, stressful, painful, or confusing. We need the Lord’s power to execute this type of lifestyle and these character traits. And when we exemplify them, we are living a life worthy of Christ who suffered and endured as well (Heb. 12:2; 1 Pet 2:21-24)

The purpose of God’s power is to enable us to live to please Him, in this case to persevere patiently and endure with joy. He wants us to know His power and joy even in the midst of the hardest parts of life. 

I love how D.A. Carson explains it:

“…These virtues enable the believer to survive with joy when persecuted, to triumph in self-composure and contentment when insulted, to trust God’s all-wise and all-gracious providence when one is suffering like Job. When Jesus sees these virtues in us, he is well pleased.”

 If you realize you are lacking these virtues in your life, pray for them using this prayer. And walk worthy of the Lord this week with endurance and patience!