One of the best things my travels from speaking and writing is meeting amazing human beings. I’ve had the pleasure of meeting people who have faced extraordinary challenges but, in the face of great adversity, did not quit. Do you know someone like this? I believe we all know someone who matches these descriptions. The person who is facing a terminal illness but exudes joy and faith, the single parent who seems to be a superhero, the parent who loses a child but keeps speaking hope into the lives of others, the recovering addict who shares the goodness of God’s love and His redeeming grace. But, there are others. The police officer who was shot in the line of duty and forced to take another human life to prevent further destruction, the bus driver who sacrificed his life for that of the children on his bus, the man or woman who has seen unspeakable things in the line of duty, but continue to serve. Why do we continue to fight?
We know all of these sufferings bear a great reward. We must, like it is stated in Romans 5:3, glory in our sufferings because we know what it produces. From every tragedy God delivers to us and through us unspeakable blessings. We were never promised an easy life, just a victorious one, if we followed the protocol of God’s word. Being a follower of Christ will place us in challenging situations, but if we are steadfast and resilient, we will be victorious and rewarded. I don’t know what you may be facing today. Whatever the challenges, know you were not created to be defeated. As a follower of Christ, you are armed with the truth of His Word, the armor of God, and are called to be steadfast and resilient in the face of adversity. To be resilient, we must know what our motivation is, we must know what God’s Word says, we must take action and apply His Word in our lives, and we must learn to declare His word over our lives. If things are going well today, take the steps to strengthen your walk and develop the strength, endurance, and stamina spiritually to prepare for battle. It will come. If anyone tells you otherwise, they are deceiving you and in denial of the truth of His word. Stay strong! Walk in victory! Rise to the occasion!
Heavenly Father, Thank you for the gift of salvation, a resilient faith, and a steadfast spirit. Guide my hands and feet, grant me discernment and wisdom, and prepare me through Your word as I commit to studying it and worshiping you. -Amen
“Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance;”
Romans 5:3 NIV
