Perseverance Is…

As I ponder and reflect on what the Lord is doing in our lives, I must be honest and transparent.  He is continuing to break us, mold us, and shape us into being more like Him. Honestly, at the moment, this journey is hard, and many days I feel alone, asking lots of questions, trying to figure things out on my own. Often, I cannot deny the ugliness of my heart, asking God, “Isn’t there a different path to Nicaragua, perhaps the Lottery!” Support raising is difficult, it is painful, it is humbling, and it breaks down all that “I have created myself to be.” At times I have wanted to quit, give up, often reminding myself it isn’t supposed to be this difficult; surely this isn’t the Will of the Father. Or is it? How dare I think He isn’t worth doing what’s hard. When I say this task is impossible, we are no where close to being financially funded; so maybe we should just stop. How self-centered and selfish I am. I will not let those thoughts become idols in my life. This has caused me to reflect on scripture, and ask myself, “Who’s path was easy?” Not Abraham, not Moses, not David, not Job, not Elijah, not John, not Peter, not Paul, the list is endless, and certainly not JESUS. Their path to accomplishing what God the Father asked of them was hard, painful, difficult, and humanly impossible. But they persevered, they endured, and God was glorified. But God is working in my heart, teaching me perseverance.  I am no longer a slave to my fears, my difficulties, my worries, or the idol of myself – I am a child, a daughter of the King of Kings. I choose today to persevere for the Kingdom, to advance the beautiful Gospel message wherever, whenever, and however!

Romans 5:3-4 “Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.”