How to Find Faith Through Perseverance
It's hard to endure when things are difficult. When things are good and are falling into place, enduring doesn't seem so impossible. But things won't always be easy. That's why we need to learn how to persevere in life now so we can enjoy our Heavenly rewards later.
It’s pretty easy to tell yourself that with God at your side, you can get through anything…until things aren’t so easy anymore. Sometimes we can find ourselves so fixated on our struggles that we forget that our reward is in Heaven, not on Earth. So how do we prepare to live out our faith in an active way so that we are ready when challenges arise?
How do you endure hardship?
Faith can move mountains. In these seasons when you are forced to live your faith, meaning you have to have an ACTIVE faith, relying on an invisible God when things are tough, that’s when the power of God is at its strongest. When you live your faith and rely on the power of an invisible God, that's when it's greatest. His power is most evident when our circumstances seem too big, and we seem too weak. Because in those moments, we are forced to rely on Him 100%, and thats when His best work is visible!
How we can live out our faith
Have you ever encountered someone who was in the middle of something that made you think “I don’t know how they do it!?!” Do you wonder where they get the strength to get through it with such humility and grace? That peace of mind can only come from God’s Holy Spirit, and that peace of heart is something He gives to those who are able to keep their eyes focused on Him as they encounter difficult seasons of their life.
The story of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego is one of my favorite examples of living by faith. In Daniel 3 they were forced to stand before Nebuchadnezzar, who was forcing them to renounce their faith and worship His idols. Their response in verses 17-18 is a powerful example of peace with God through active faith.
“If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and he will deliver us from Your Majesty’s hand. But even if he does not, we want you to know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.”
They were able to stand in that place, facing certain death without the crippling fear that would make most of us buckle. Do I believe it’s because they were remarkably strong people? Maybe..but the truth is, they were able to be bold and brave because they knew that EVEN IF God’s will was different than the outcome they hoped for, that His plan was perfect and they could find peace in the faith they had in Him.
Living your faith one day at a time
Learning to persevere here on earth is all about learning how to take it one day at a time- remember God is sovereign and keep going. We can’t possibly find peace in hard times when we are so immersed in them that we can’t see a way out. Instead, we need to focus on the fact that God is with us now. And He will be with us at the very moment where we finally get to see His Eternal plan come together.
When we realize that even when things were bad, He is still good.
One day at a time.
He is present.
He cares about your tears.
He knows your struggles.
He can still work with you when you are a hot mess.
He will still listen even when your attempts to talk with him are just tears and broken cries.
He sees your heart and as long as your heart still beats here, He’s not done with you yet.
Never give up, God is still working in you.
Paul's words to Timothy are a powerful message of encouragement for those who are suffering. Never give up, even and especially when things seem bleak. God is still working in you, and one day, you will see your reward in His presence ♥️ And the faith you found through all of the perseverance of this life will be revealed in His Heavenly glory, and what a pay-off that will be!
The things that bring us down here aren't for nothing. And even when things don't go as we planned, or our prayers aren't answered the way we hope, we can have solid faith that God's plan is better than ours, because His story for our lives is robust and complete...not just the snapshot we see in the here and now.
Adorn your wrists.
Wear your testimony.
Thank you for this nourishing devotion! 🙏💕
Very nice. God Bless you.
Beautifully written, Angie and so encouraging to persevere. Our hope and reward is not on this earth…good reminder. Thanks 🙏
Thank you. You are a blessing to us