This is from an email that my dad forwarded to me.The following is Day 64 on Rebecca's remarkable 90 Day Journey in her new book “Pure”…with all the world's unsettling news and headlines of the day –maybe this is a message for you!
If you've been a Christian for any length of time, you have undoubtedly experienced seasons of weariness in trying to stay on the straight and narrow path. In our quest for living a pure, focused life that pleases God, we all hit the wall at one time or another. What do we do then? Give up and decide it's no longer any use to keep trying? Not an option. I have had times when the road has gotten long and I've missed home and found myself yearning for normal life and my friends. Those periods can be very challenging. When they happen I go to God and ask for His strength for the journey.
One of the benefits of getting through the difficult moments is that when we come out on the other side, we have grown through the adversity in ways we would not have otherwise. And, when it's beyond our power and strength to make it on our own, we know beyond certainty that it was God, and not ourselves, that got us through. He receives greater glory when we are depleted, and cry out to Him for the strength to walk through the hardship.
Another key for survival has been leaning on the community of faith that God has given me. In recent years I have discovered more about the power of community by being honest and asking friends to walk with me through the lonely and difficult times. Sometimes just asking for prayer or a chat on the phone helps immensely. I now understand the power of being vulnerable and open in showing weakness within safe friendships. That's been empowering. Knowing that God is using my life and ministry also definitely helps encourage me through any hard times.
It's been said, “Tough times don't last; tough people do.” The following verses all are taken from The Message, which is a modern paraphrase of the Bible written by Eugene Peterson. I love what these verses say about hanging tough when we feel like throwing in the towel.
• “God is good, a hiding place in tough times. He recognizes and welcomes anyone looking for help, no matter how desperate the trouble” (Nahum 1:7).
• Paul and Barnabas urged them “to stick with what they had begun to believe and not quit, making it clear to them that it wouldn't be easy: 'Anyone signing up for the kingdom of God has to go through plenty of hard times'” (Acts 14:22).
• “Don't burn out; keep yourselves fueled and aflame. Be alert servants of the Master, cheerfully expectant. Don't quit in hard times; pray all the harder” (Romans 12:11, 12)
• “He comes alongside us when we go through hard times, and before you know it, he brings us alongside someone else who is going through hard times so that we can be there for that person just as God was there for us. We have plenty of hard times that come from following the Messiah, but no more so than the good times of his healing comfort—we get a full measure of that, too” (2 Corinthians 1:3-5).
• “So we're not giving up. How could we! Even though on the outside it often looks like things are falling apart on us, on the inside, where God is making new life, not a day goes by without his unfolding grace. These hard times are small potatoes compared to the coming good times, the lavish celebration prepared for us” (2 Corinthians 4:16, 17).
The next time you are facing a difficult situation (maybe even today), pull out the above verses and meditate on them. God is always faithful to fulfill the promises in His Word. That's a truth you can rely on!
Rebecca St James
