The blog will be on hold until we return officially in November. I still hope to post as much as I can but it will mostly be updates on our family. We appreciate all those who have prayed for Finn and our family as we will enter a new season, we are so thankful for you all!! On with the post. . .
Challenges:
James 1: 2-4
" Count it all, joy my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness, And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing."
"Never once have we ever walked alone. . . Never once did you leave us on our own. . . you are faithful God you are faithful."
The above lyrics strike a cord for me personally as I have walked literally through fire, darkness, and pits of despair. What do I say now about those times? That God is faithful. That in utter darkness God is a great light, that God has never left me once on my own. My trust in God has grown and continues to grow because of one thing: trials. There is no room for growth until the bottom falls out, the rain pours down, and the life that you once knew becomes a distant memory. Then clinging to God becomes an urgent need like breathing, like walking, dependence upon Him becomes necessary for life. Some may never experience a need for God that surpasses your physical or emotional state, but once you do you are never the same. Some may never walk through fire knowing it will burn to bring forth His glorious truth. . . but this is something I hope we all experience. Our character is refined not by easy good times, it is molded by fire. It is shaped through tragedy, iniquity, suffering, and challenges.
We must not give up or give into a self pity or self righteousness that thus strips us from the character building that God is doing in our midst. Suffering is our calling. . . you see we must take up our cross and follow Him, we are disciples and all but one of them were marytered for Christ's name. We are not promised easy, successful, rich, living. We are promised a faith that endures, a hope that remains, a truth that cannot be broken. So today we must choose to live for Christ we must take up our cross, and we must know that in doing so who we are becomes a beacon for those in need. Steadfastness. . . the ability to stay. The ability to trust Him. The ability to let go of dreams that mimic a world lost in darkness, to cling to a hope of a greater day. . . one where we will not know any more pain, sorrow, or fear. Steadfastness. . . the ability to stand in the midst of great persecution, pain, suffering, and loss and know that you never ever walk alone.
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