Perseverance has become a focal point in my life. For nearly two weeks I prayed over, tussled with, and returned again and again to the throne room. Are you sure that’s the word you have for me this year, Lord?
It is.
[bbctt tweet="Regardless of the call, the Lord equips His people.#hoperestored #pursuingpeace #perseverance"]
But, I know the Father has only good things in store for His children. I know His promises are true. Regardless of the call, the Lord equips His people.
The Lord filled praying Hannah’s empty womb, delivered grumbling Israel from the evils of slavery, provided a kinsman-redeemer for a young-widow and her embittered mother-in-law, raised an obscure orphan girl to a position of rank in order to save His people, and embraced the weakness of flesh only to die and overcome death within three days as a means to reach the lost ones of a world in need.
If a loving God will do all of that and more, then my heart responds, “Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word.” (Luke 1:38 NKJ)
I realize perseverance conjures up images of trials, temptations, and hardships, but doesn’t the world place them directly at our feet? Christ once told His disciples, “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33 NIV) Jesus wasn’t a misguided prophet who believed everything in the world was good, right, and true.
He offered something much better. Jesus offered Himself-the way to peace with God.
In the same way, perseverance is the way to something better. It is the way to maturity for the Christian. But, often, we’ve gone amiss in seeking after perseverance. We’ve attempted to secure it in our own strength.
But perseverance is not a checklist. It’s not a convenient downloadable or a Holy Spirit app we can tap on the i-phone when trials or anxiety overwhelms us. It’s not a self-help book or something we put on with a determined smile like a tube of shiny red lipstick or an I’ve-got-this-Sunday-best-facade.
Perseverance can only be dressed up for a short time in the flesh before everything falls apart and the cracks begin to show. Christian, we aren’t meant to do this alone. We’ve gotten mixed up in the mess of be-all-you-can-be when we need to fall on our faces before God asking Him to show us the way.
I believe the living, breathing word of God points us in the right direction to being a testimony for Him in the strange mix of beauty and adversity, joy and sorrow.
Colossians 1:10-12 reads, We (Paul and Timothy) continually ask God to fill you (believers) with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives, so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and giving joyful thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of his holy people in the kingdom of light.
Did you notice in whom the power of perseverance resides? God does the filling. God does the strengthening. We cannot persevere in our own strength, Friend. We must seek His knowledge, power, and will. We must seek Him more each day and give thanks to the one who has given us life. What freedom we have knowing perseverance doesn’t depend upon our own weakness, but it comes from the immeasurable, immutable power of God.
Persevering in the day to day moments is the place we begin with Him. Trusting Him to lead and guide us because when the hard-edged times of fear or uncertainty press in on all sides, we’ll know where to turn. We’ll be practiced in the disciplines of faith to which Paul refers.
Prayer. Pressing in. Praising.
These are simple places to begin seeking Him as He grows us in perseverance toward mature believers.
Peace and grace,
Tammy
I often link-up with the following wonderful bloggers:
Mondays InstaEncouragements/ Anita Ojeda, Mandy and Michele, Kingdom Bloggers,
Tuesdays RaRa Linkup /GraceFull Tuesday / Tell His Story/Anchored Abode,
Wednesdays Worth Beyond Rubies, Recharge Wednesday / Welcome Wednesday /LetsHave Coffee/Porch Stories
Thursdays Heart Encouragement / Tune In Thursday /Salt and Light / Five Minute Friday
Friday Counting My Blessings, Faith on Fire, Blogger Voices Network, Grace and Truth Linkup,best-of-the-weekend Fresh Market Fridays
Well said ma’am. Perseverance is not a single decision for a single moment. It is a continuing trust in that God can and will lead us through it as long as we lean into Him and hold to His promises.
Their are many in scripture to whom we can look as examples–Joseph, Ruth, Paul. Christ, of course, is the perfect model of perseverance and He intercedes on our behalf. What a blessing!
Love your explanations of perseverance. And how it is not something we can do on our own. We need to rely on God. I think of perseverance sometimes as just staying faithful to what we need to do. Taking the next step when we don’t feel like it. Serving those around us when we want to sit and rest. Continuing in the work God has on earth for us to do. Nothing grand and glorious, just the everyday faithfulness to our small circle.
Hi Theresa. I think you’re right; leaning into our calling in all aspects and demonstrating day to day faithfulness to the work He has for us to do. Blessings, Tammy
yes! God is the giver. Things like perseverance are a result not from us trying but by God’s training. Thanks for coming by the Legacy Linkup
Thanks Tammy. So when we are not persevering, whose fault is it?Why is longsuffering such a difficult fruit of the Spirit to learn?
I think it’s just part of the sanctification process. We are in the process of becoming and some traits may be more difficult for us to learn and grow into than others.