How easy it is to feel like giving up and mistake obedience for insanity or hope for foolishness - to feel perseverance is in vain, or a desert the sign of failure. The world affirms these lies. Friends and family can affirm these lies. Even our brothers and sisters in Christ know not what they say at times.
We want results, yesterday, for the work we put in. Our ability to get up after falling is not bad. Our ability to get up after falling 378 times? Not so good.
We can maybe forgive that person seven times but c'mon, seventy times seven? What am I? An idiot? The "world" yells that you are indeed, an idiot - maybe even an idiot with a diagnosis in need of a good therapist. Not true.
It's been years and you have literally been praying daily for God to work in a situation that has gotten worse. Clearly, you must be stupid, God isn't listening, or you're not praying the right way. Maybe you are being punished for that thing you did the other day or your situation is too much for God. It could be that His agenda doesn't include you. More untruths.
There are inner demons you have been trying to conquer. Now, it feels those demons are conquering you. Your hands keep sliding downward as you try to crawl out of the pit. A mocking spirit is spitting shame and failure in your face convincing you it's no use trying anymore. Lies.
Holding faith is not easy, especially when things have gone majorly awry. It is undoubtedly hard to walk when you can't see your hand in front of your face. It is painful to be at that place where you yearn for a break, an answer, and a glimmer of anything resembling hope. You can start to question your sanity.
Discouragement, weariness, abandonment, and worthlessness do not discriminate. Do you know how I really, truly know this? Because, even Jesus Christ experienced it. The Bible says that He is well acquainted with our grief and understands our temptations and weaknesses. He felt betrayed and abandoned, and at times wondered what good He was accomplishing.
I am grateful that Jesus did not give up. What a horror the alternative would be.
Could it be then, that the results are less important than the heart of the laborer and the One to Whom that laborer is committed? That's a hard truth to come by, but is it not a treasure? I think it is.
Our faith is never in vain.
Do not give up.
Even when your prayer feels preposterous.
God does not mock you. On the contrary, He holds your faith reverently to His heart.
You are safe to persevere because God is trustworthy.
"Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see." Hebrews 11:1
Written by,
Dee M. Kostelyk
Oh how this speaks to me!
ReplyDelete