How to Stand through Hardships!

I was listening to a Pastor Friend of mine, teach on how to stand in the midst of hard times, and hardship. I got inspired to write on it. It always seems easier to "get" principles, when you apply them and act upon them through His word. Let's Look at this.

“ Blessed (happy, content) is the person who perseveres under trial( hardship, difficulty), because when they stand the test, they will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.” James 1:12

You know, we will all face trials, and hardship in life.When I think about it, life is complete with trial after trial. It seems that right after you find that rest, or peace, even joy, the Lord allows, yet another trial to come before us, in order to teach us perseverance, or endurance for that matter. It seems to never get easier, does it? However, friends we must never forget that Papa knows what we can stand and what we cannot stand. He knows that the only way for us to have our faith refined and tested, is in the midst of a trial. The heat flowing from the fire of each trial seems to increase, as our faith is stretched and we are being refined. But I want you to understand something, the trial alone doesn't strengthen us, it's how we exercise our faith, in the midst of the hardship that makes us stronger. It's what we say and what we confess. If we are in constant complaint, always nagging on how bad it is, we will never, and I mean never gain strength, however if we as believers speak LIFE words, of what we believe, and act upon what we are saying WE BECOME STRONGER in the midst of our trial. What you say depends on what the trail may be.

In my short experience of life, those closest to me, caused such great disappointment. Yet the ways I view these disappointments are ways of presenting trials that will develop my strength in Jesus. Friends, we must continue on and never give up. We must constantly be reminded that the trials and disappointments are vehicles of suffering. As such, they are constant reminders to us of the Lord Jesus and his suffering. The Scripture reads, "let the weak say I am strong" it's a confession of faith. Christ didn't say" let the suffering say I'm so weak, bring me more pain" though I laugh at such a thought, we as humans struggle with LIFE-Words. And Speaking hope in the midst of our disappointments.

Friends, Jesus came to save that which was lost. His benefits were to forgive our iniquities and heal our diseases, and mend all challenges, such like trials of life, financial hardship, sexual sin, marital challenges, emotional dependencies, yet, he was despised and filled with sorrow. The chastisement of our peace was upon him. He took our sickness and bore our diseases. By the stripes on his body we were healed. Look at all he did for us and yet he had to endure the greatest of trials and persevere where their seemed to be no hope. Jesus did not quit. No one, no circumstances, nothing could keep him from continuing on, until his work was finished.

Sometimes it just never makes any sense. You work diligently at your job. You honor authority and submit with a righteous, and good heart. You are used as a blessing of God’s love and mercy and you touch many lives. Yet, Then there are those who are workers of iniquity, There are those who conspire to deceive and seek only self gain and adulation from humanity. There are those who live apparent lives of splendor and great abundance and wealth. Suddenly, you find yourself in the midst of a trial, in the midst of harship and all you worked for is gone, while those who did not fear God, seem to go on in life, without bearing the scars of the furnace.

Friends, we must go on. We must meet the challenge to the end. For we know that only those who endure to the end, will be ones who will gain the full prize of a glorious place. Our hope and our eyes must be on the prize Giver. We must focus on the finish line, which is realized when we stand face to face with Jesus himself! Jesus is not looking for quitters. He is looking at those who can stand the test. He wants only those who in their weakness are made strong in him. He only wants those who can declare in the center of the fire, that God is good and that He alone is my strength and my shield. He only wants those who look for his approval and confirmation and not that of man. Be strong and of good courage. Endure the hardship, whatever it may be!

A good friend of mine made this statement. "We don't get a crown of life for running a perfect race, we get a crown of life for enduring and not quitting" Jesus Never quit! He was sustained through perseverance!

Be encouraged my dear friends! Whatever the cost....DO NOT QUIT! Stand! Be. Live!

I love you deeply!
Dg