“Staying Committed Through the Hard Times”

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Commitment is you saying you will hang in there even when the initial excitement fades away. When everything around you says, “its ok to give up,” you rebel against the voice which leads you away from your commitment.

Oftentimes we become so fixated on the big things, the end goal, and the final moment that we find the journey burdensome. Personally, when I found myself going through my divorce while pregnant, I WANTED TO RUN. I WANTED TO FIX IT. I DIDN’T WANT TO FAIL. But there was a point in which I realized, there was deliverance on the other side, but I had to GO THROUGH the pain in order to get the healing.

A negative mindset not only drives us away from our gifts, but puts a wedge in our purpose. The struggle is part of the process, there is purpose in our pain, but we have to STAY with it and STAND in it in order to experience the victory.

I am often reminded of a quote I read while reading Rising Strong, in which Brene Brown utilized a quote from Theodore Roosevelt about being in the arena:
“The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst , if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory or defeat.” Theodore Roosevelt

When I read this quote, I am reminded, I AM NOT ALONE. I am not the first person who’s experienced divorce and becoming a single parent. Encouraged to know there were others before me who battled and overcame. And the fact that I am willing to acknowledge my pain and accept my pain already makes me victorious.

Whats important to remember is just because something is easy does is not assurance its from Christ and just because it is hard does not mean that it is not from Christ. 1Peter 4:13 says, “But rejoice inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed” (NLT). Like Christ, we can be assured that our suffering is part of the process. So when we find ourselves knee deep in the struggle; stay anchored in God’s word.

The bible reminds us that God uses test to assure our commitment to him. 1 Peter 1:7 says, “These trials are only to test your faith, to show that it is strong and pure. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold and your faith is far more precious to God than mere gold” (NLT). Trials are part of the process, we cannot escape them, which is why the whispers from God during the journey are so important. We many not always understand all that comes our way, but God encourages us to trust he has our best interest at heart.

As believers, as members of the body of christ it is our responsibility to live a life where our story unfolds as a testament to who God is. So during those moments where we want to give up, we have to remember what Hebrews 12:12-13says “So take a new grip with your tired hands and stand firm on your shaky legs. Mark out a straight path for our feet. Then those who follow you, though they are weak and lame, will not stumble and fall but become strong” (NLT). What a beautiful reminder that our hardships are not about us, but about being an example for others through our trials.

It’s during the process, where we get to learn about ourselves, its during the process, where God’s visions for us are revealed, its during the process, where hope is established. It’s a new mind and new thoughts about who we are and whose we are.

When we find ourselves knee deep in the struggle, trust God’s plan anyway, trust there is purpose for our pain, and trust there is value in the process; We never know how close we are to our breakthrough!

TRUST THE PROCESS•ENJOY THE JOURNEY

REBORN.RENEWED.RECOLORED.