Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd

Of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every

Weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so

Easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the

Race God has set before us.

Hebrews 12:1 NLT

 

How well do you persevere and push through when life knocks you down and punches you in the gut? Do you give up and stop trying? God tells us in this verse that we are surrounded by other believers that can witness to us and share their testimony and stories of faith to encourage us to press on to the goal. His word tells us to get rid of everything that is stopping us from achieving his will for our lives and let us run in such a way that no matter what obstacles appear, or how bleak it may look, to never give up.

 

Perseverance is something that a person develops over time. How do we learn it? By test and trials in our lives- when we must stand in faith and trust the Lord is working on our behalf; even though through our eyes we can’t even begin to imagine how things will work out.  Perseverance means crying out to the Lord in all times, not just rough and tumble times, but joyous and good times too. Seek him out and allow him to be your strength when you just don’t think you can take one more rejection or let down.

 

As children of God, we know that no matter what we face in our lives, he is with us always. The holy spirit lives in each of our hearts. Taking the easy way out of a tough situation, is not being the person God created you to be. He is everything you need. He is enough. Perseverance can be described in this acrostic

P.U.S.H. P=Pray U=Until S=Something H=Happens

 

As we pray and press on and into Jesus, he will bless us in ways we can’t begin to fathom, but we have to do our part. We can’t just pray and wait for him to do all the work. Perseverance develops character and allows God to mold and shape us into the person he want us to be. We cannot let others cloud our judgement and decision-making. God has a plan for each one of us, and as we are called to fulfill that plan, we must be willing to stand on his promises that he will never leave us or abandon us. He will equip us with all the tools necessary to reach the destination set before us.

 

I am the Lord; there is no other God. I have equipped you

For battle, though you don’t even know me, so all the world from east to west will know there is no other God. I am the Lord and there is no other.

I create the light and make the darkness. I send good times and bad times, I the Lord, am the one who does these things.

Isaiah 45:5-7 NLT

 

Challenges are opportunities for us to show others how Great our God is and how he will use every perceived failure to help us reach the ultimate goal set before us.

 

We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and

Trials, for we know that they help us develop

Endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character

Strengthens our confident hope of salvation.

And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly

God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit

To fill our hearts with his love.

Romans 5:3-5 NLT

 

The next time you are faced with fear and  you think you  can’t do what you have been called to do in your life, remember this, Jesus will see you through whatever it is; He will fight for you, simply because you are his child and he loves you.

Never Give Up.

 

May you know how much God Loves You! Blessings,

Carlene