Archive for perseverance
Faith in trials
I love when a book is so good that long after finishing it, quotes from it actually stay with me and come to mind at just the right time. I’m pretty sure the contentment book (as I like to call it) is one of those books. Jeremiah Burroughs had an amazing way of writing with word pictures that bring understanding and help with remembrance. One such quote/word picture that frequently comes to mind when I’m walking through a trial and things around me don’t seem to make sense is:
“Therefore, when reason can go no higher, let faith get on the shoulders of reason and say, ‘I see land though reason cannot see it, I see good that will come out of all this evil.’”
I frequently envision faith jumping on the “shoulders of reason” and pointing the way to the goodness in sight. If you’re going through a trial that you can’t seem to reason through have faith that “good will come out of all this evil,” that the Lord will use it to bring Himself glory and to encourage and sanctify you and those around you.
Romans 8: 26-28 “In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God’s will. And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”
A New Definition of Perfection
My friend Kristen posted about a wedding sermon in which the pastor gave this definition of perfection. I’ve been meditating on this for weeks now and when I feel overwhelmed by my sinfulness I am encouraged and motivated. Instead of getting down and focusing on how impossible it is to reach perfection this side of eternity I’m reminded to actively pursue God rather than dwell on myself.
p.s. Warning: if you spend any amount of time reading Kristen’s blog, you will be inspired. She is an amazing example of perseverance in amazingly difficult circumstances!
“Consider him who endured…so that you will not grow weary”
In the midst of a difficult trial I often find that I tend to focus on myself, analyzing the situation thoroughly and repeatedly going over the events in my mind. I have found myself doing this recently as my younger brother Andrew and his wife Laura (and consequently my family) are walking through a dark valley of confusion and hardship. Of course as his sister this trial has caused me much heart ache and it’s been hard to focus on anything else but the pain. Although focusing on these things is ok, I was reminded today through God’s word that if I am to persevere and keep going I must lift my eyes and fix them on something else, Jesus.
2 passages of Scripture helped readjust my focus today. The first, James 1:12, says “Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.” In my grief I find that shifting my primary focus to the promises the Lord has for me leads my soul to much needed rest and peace.
The 2nd passage motivated me by reminding me that Christ is the ultimate example of perseverance – what better person to focus on? Christ saw doing His father’s will (bringing hope to a hopeless world by dying on a cross) as “the joy set before him” and persevered to the end – despite his torturous circumstances.
“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.” Hebrews 12:1-3
Although these verses don’t take away the pain and the tears completely, they give my heart peace, hope and assurance that there is an end to suffering and that the Lord endured much more than myself in order to ensure this promised end!
