CONTINUING TO PERSEVERE

As believers we can take comfort in the example of others, like Job, who have lived through suffering and emerged into an experience of God’s mercy. We may not always believe it is a gift to be human, because it means learning, growing and starting again, often many times. Faith means relying on a loving God, who is patiently beside us through it all. We are reminded in Psalm 103:8, “Merciful and gracious is the Lord, slow to anger, abounding in mercy.” There is much we bear daily in our human condition: illness, our own or those we care for, grief, loss, pain, discouragement, loneliness, and more. As we trust that God is faithful, we can persevere. God never walks away or leaves us in despair. God’s love carries us because God is eager to heal our every wound.

Discouragement happens when we neglect to trust God’s love for us, plus trusting God’s special timing for all that occurs in our lives. Despite discouragement, there’s hope to hold onto. Even when or if our faith is small, it is more than enough for God to hear us.

Worrying often disguises itself as responsibility. It can feel active, even productive. However, it is an attempt to control what was never ours to manage. Faith grows when we release the illusion of control and accept our limits. Peace can come from surrendering what we cannot solve. We pray for wisdom to understand the difference between responsibility and control. With God’s grace, it is a demon we can overcome.

As I discovered the freedom to let go, the Lord brought me to contentment, and gratitude was close behind. The Holy Spirit renews us from the inside out, reshaping and strengthening us. It is not about starting over; it is about becoming who we were always meant to be, while restoring our hearts. Once we encounter the living presence of the Lord in the power of the Holy Spirit, everything about our faith comes alive. We can continue to persevere as we use Scriptures to give us inspiration, like, 1 Chronicles 16:11: “Rely on the mighty Lord; constantly seek His face.”

In my mother’s illness she would often say, “I give up.” I would cringe hearing those words. While we may “feel” that way, it only takes us deeper into despair. I believe persevering will lead to a greater peace of mind and believing that what God says in the Scriptures is the final word. Let’s trust in the words in Deuteronomy 31:8: “It is the Lord who goes before you; He will be with you and will never fail you or forsake you. So do not fear or be dismayed.”