Jewels Found In Persevering

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before Him, He endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” (Hebrews 12:1-2)

We will all have trials, that are part of life on earth, one that is fallen due to Satan, and our own bad free will choices. Apart from Him, we can do nothing, and, in this world, we will all have trials.

 I love that verse; it tells us to throw off every weight.  That means we have a choice.  We have a choice to repent when the Holy Spirit convicts us; we have a choice to forgive as in Christ, God forgave us.  We have a choice to listen to the Lord’s voice directing us which way to go.

“A person’s steps are directed by the LORD. How then can anyone understand their own way?” (Proverbs 20:24) -- The way to go, when to go, what to say and when to say and when to zip it.

When we ignore the Lord telling us, no, don’t do that, no, don’t go that way, no, that is not the right job, no, don’t say that, and so on, then we will reap the consequences of our actions and our words.

So, there are trials that come our way due to sin and the Lord will reveal them to us and convict us through trials, and the trials that come our way from the bad choices we make from our free will.   So, when the Lord says no, or convicts us to repent it is so there will be no hindrances to our path.

Some trials come our way that God allows to grow us and make us stronger.  To grow our faith, and draw something out of us, a passion for the purpose He has for us.

“For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” (Ephesians 2:10)

Joseph was thrown into a pit by his jealous brothers, although he sort of brought that one by his poor timing and words, God allowed it.  He was sold into slavery, accused wrongly, and thrown into prison. He stayed faithful to God and God gave him favor. And prison was his ticket out! 

You might think prison, and that is his victory, his way through to promotion.  DON’T COUNT YOURSELF OUT WHEN THINGS ARE ESPECIALLY HARD. Yes, that was his way out.  He was promoted to the palace because he could tell the meaning of Pharoah’s dreams when no one else could.  God gave the dream and would only give the interpretation to the one He chose, Joseph. That put him where he needed to be when he needed to be there.  This is the providence of God!  God’s divine appointments.   The dreams foretold 7 yrs of plenty by 7 yrs of famine and Joseph, through the wisdom of God, gave the solution.  Due to Joseph’s continued obedience, faithfulness, and perseverance, 2 nations were fed: Egypt and Israel; and you might even say Jews and Gentiles.

The story of Joseph has so much symbolism between Joseph and Jesus; it is a must-read.

This symbolizes that Salvation is for all who call on the name of the Lord.

Paul went through one hardship after another, and he endured it all and tells us how to go through it: Focus and Rely on the Lord!

“I rejoiced greatly in the Lord that at last, you renewed your concern for me. Indeed, you were concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it. I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well-fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through Him who gives me strength.” (Philippians 4:10-13)

He endured and what has come of all the many trials Paul went through: Out of the 27 books of the New Testament, he wrote 13, and 5 were from prison!

Through all the abuse I suffered and the loss of my 16-year-old son, God completely turned my life around!  He gave me a passion for studying the word, and now I am a Pastor, Author, and Speaker and I also work with troubled young girls at Adult & Teen Challenge.  God gave me the voice Satan tried to steal and one that HE birthed through the trials I faced; and a desire to help others know their identity comes from Jesus Christ and not those who mistreated you in the past.   

I have been through so many more and one of the last ones, our car engine blew up and we were left without a car and Donnie without a job because he drove for Uber.  I could not pay all the bills, but we trusted God through it and now He gave us an even better car and Donnie has a full-time job with benefits and making more than he ever did before! Trust God and stay the course!

What will the Lord do through you if you trust Him through your trials, and ask for wisdom and discernment to hear, understand, and follow His leading and not give up?

In the end, you grow stronger, and your faith grows as a result, to top that off, you have a testimony to share with those in need that God places in your path!

“In all this, you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory, and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls.”               (I Peter 1:6-9)

Perseverance—It is not just trying to rush through the trials but taking them as God leads you through and receiving the Jewels from the trials God has placed along the way for you to glean as you go through them.

But also, perseverance is not rushing your time with God.  His presence is so sweet and loving and He wants to spend time with you!

Jesus spent hours in prayer but would come down from His alone time full of the power of God and it only took minutes for Him to heal or deliver someone.

Don’t rush your time with God and persevere through your trials making sure you learn and glean everything God has for you in them.

The more of Him you take in with your time with Him, the more will flow out, “Streams of living water will flow from within you.”

Sit with God -- taking time and enjoying His presence, and do not rush your time or the process of the trials. Blessings will come from them!