In the Webster’s dictionary the definition of Perseverance
is: to persist in a state, enterprise, or undertaking in spite of counter influences, opposition, or discouragement
and the definition of Trials
is: Experience; suffering that puts strength, patience of faith to the test; afflictions or temptations that exercise and prove the graces or virtues of men.
James 1:2-8 says:
“2Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. 4Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. 5If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. 6But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. 7That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; 8he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does.”
Right now I am in this trial of sickness…if that is what you want to call it! I have been sick for weeks. Not felt good, often extremely tired, stomach pain, and many other pains. I have had so many tests done. Been to many doctors. We think we have the right diagnosis of Addison’s Disease. We have more tests next week. It is draining. And I am tired. My body feels weak. My mind is still running! And today I am meditating on this scriptures:
Isaiah 40:28-31
28 Do you not know?
Have you not heard?
The LORD is the everlasting God,
the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He will not grow tired or weary,
and his understanding no one can fathom.
29 He gives strength to the weary
and increases the power of the weak.
30 Even youths grow tired and weary,
and young men stumble and fall;
31 but those who hope in the LORD
will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint.
My hope is in the Lord. I know that as I walk through this time of trials, that I will persevere and come out a better person for it. Someone said to me, “well it is just not fair that you have to walk through this” Well life is not fair. And God did not promise us that we would walk a life with NO problems or that it would just be every once in a while. He said we would have problems period. I can’t question God, I learned a long time ago not to. He has my life in his hands. His plan is perfect for me. When we question Him, then we are really doubting Him and his perfect plan. What we think is perfect, is usually not what God thinks is perfect. His timing is usually not ours. His ways our not ours. I have found in this time that I do have such a peace. It is only peace that God can give. Do I have my days, well yes because I am only human. But this is what I know for sure: God loves me so much, His care for me is deep, his plan for me is perfect, his timing is perfect, his ways are perfect, his grace is enough for me to make it through each day, his strength for me is enough for each day, his peace is indescribable, his joy, that he puts in me, is new every morning. And I know in the end, regardless of whatever that might be for me or you, that we will be okay, as long as our trust is in Him.
