This post is an assignment for a writing group that I’m participating in. The writing prompt is perseverance. What was happening? What were the circumstances? How did you find the strength to continue on? What would you say to someone in a similar situation?
Life is happening. As I think about how perseverance currently applies to me, the recurring message that pops up is a spiritual one—trust God.
Even this post in an act of faith, being obedience and trusting God to direct my words. I had a cutesy post planned out that would fit the theme of perseverance quite nicely. We’re in the midst of potty-training my toddler. Perseverance is a must in this stage of growth–for her and for me. My idea was to keep things on the lighter side, for a change, and share some funny moments from our training. I started to type out the post and it was dull. With some creative editing, I could’ve pulled it off, but my heart wasn’t fully in it. Deep down, I could feel the tug to tackle this heavier and real topic of persevering in learning to trust God more.
Like so many others, I tend to restrict God to action-only statue. As in when I feel I ‘need’ something—crisis, rapid answer to prayer, an immediate break from life—I can call, beg, plead, beseech God and He will answer. He is there to help me when I need it. But this isn’t all, nor is it enough.
God wants me to trust Him. Yes, He’s deeply invested in me and cares for my immediate and, often material, needs. That aside, He also has a plan for my life. There’s a growth that He wants for me so that I can live out the purpose He has for me. There is a work that He is equipping me to do for Him. Success can best occur when He directs and I follow, especially when it doesn’t make sense.
However, I often let human thinking and insecurities get in the way. It’s hard to follow when you don’t know where you’re going or what the end result will be. I’m not used to blindly trusting anyone, which makes it all the more harder to blindly trust God. And I too quickly forget His amazing record.
It’s perfect. He always, always, always comes through. The timing is accurate and His methods usually boggle me. I haven’t regretted a moment of trust yet. One latest example of this is the surprise arrival of my new baby. While my prayer list was long last year, I assure you that an additional child was not on the list. Yet, that’s what I got and it took my trust experience with God to a whole other level.
However, the story never ends there. There is no preset quantity for a trust level that must be achieved before the challenges and trials and tests stop. No, it keeps going because each thing that comes up, good and bad, helps to strengthen my trust.
For those in a similar situation, where it seems kinda-sorta strange that perseverance applies more strongly to your spiritual life than any other area, that is okay. You are not alone. One day at a time, one moment at a time. Keep giving it to God. He cannot fail.
