Endurance is associated with the physical stamina required for a race or competing in an athletic event.  However, the character quality of endurance is much deeper than just physical stamina.  It includes our right reaction and continuing perseverance and indomitable spirit during trial and suffering.

Endurance is focusing on a goal that is greater than distractions that occur along the road to reaching the goal.    

Alfred Llyond Tennison wrote, "No rock is so hard but that a little wave may beat admission in a thousand years."

Endurance is based on hope.  A runner will endure rigorous and sometimes painful training for the hope that he will win the race.  He will also endure much pain over a long race, because he knows that the pain is necessary to carry him through to his second wind.  

The two fears of a great runner are: (1) that he will run out of strength before reaching the goal, and (2) that he will reach the finish line with energy left over.  

In class we often say, "Never give up," and the students respond, "Never surrender."  Phillips Brooks wrote, "Do not pray for tasks equal to your strength, but for strength equal to your tasks."