These last few months have been some of the most stress filled months ever for me as a parent. Being pulled between a saucy two year old and my lovely seventeen year old definitely tests my faith, my peace and my resolve almost daily. I cannot count on my hand the number of days I wanted to throw in the towel and just quit. Quit praying, quit trying, quit hoping, quit.it.all. I am not suicidal by any means, but man I tell you, this mama wanted to check out. It was rough. Life is like that sometimes. I am learning more and more to just enjoy the journey because, ‘this, too, shall pass.’ In the midst of my most recent storms, I have learned the power of persevering. Perseverance isn’t just faking it til you make it. Perseverance is not settling with whatever happens. Perseverance is standing firm on what you believe and what you hope for even when all hell breaks loose in your life. Perseverance is admirable and it is truly a rare find these days.
Fight the good fight
I have been privileged to walk alongside many young adults as they enter into adulthood. I am often one of their biggest cheerleaders, motivators, and supporters. You will never hear me to encourage anyone to give up as they face life’s challenges. I truly believe we all have access to what it takes to overcome any challenge life throws our way (Jesus is the answer). So why was I so ready to quit? When you are fighting a fight day in and day out, you will get tired. Especially when you depend on your own strength and wisdom. I wanted to give up because I felt like I could not win and my fight did not matter. I felt like all hope was gone. I was so busy looking at what was in front of me that I barely had time to look up to where my help comes from, the Lord. Anger, frustration, and disappointment began to take the front seat in my life and I just wanted to stop caring. I never stopped praying, but there were many moments defeat and sadness began to overwhelm me. I had no control over the situation, I was doing everything I knew to do, but fear came in and left me feeling like a failure. Did I tell you it was rough? But, I chose to persevere. I chose to hope. I chose to leave it up to God and trust His word.
Perspective
The only person who knows what the future holds is God. He knows the beginning from the end. Our limited perspective and knowledge pales in comparison to the wisdom of God. He is faithful and when He promised that He would never leave nor forsake me, He was telling me the whole truth. Although I felt like I was in a pit, He was there with me. When I felt attacked, He reminded who I was and what authority He had given me. He strengthened me when I felt like I could not go on caring anymore. He brought to recollection the promises He made over my life and my children’s lives. He is not a man, He does not lie and I am a witness of His mercy, grace and goodness, so I chose to persevere. I chose perseverance. I chose to keep praying. I chose to keep believing. I chose to be teachable. I chose to trust God in the midst of the fiery furnace that was exploding in my life.
So worth it
Choosing is a daily occurrence. Parenting kids is tough, parenting teens is a whole ‘nother situation. But God is faithful. I had to be mindful of how I was as a teen and how God protected me and kept me and still blessed me when I was a hot mess. He never gave up on me. My children are my greatest joys and my greatest blessings. We all know, if you genuinely love someone they are worth fighting for. Note I didn’t say worth fighting with, I said worth fighting for. How do you fight for your children, your marriage, your dreams? You choose perseverance. You make the conscious decision to persevere no matter what happens. No matter the disappointments, setbacks, set ups, failures, successes – you stand firm on the promises of God. In every situation, God promises that He will work all things together for good for those who love him and and are called according to His purpose (Romans 8:28). So if you know you love God and you know you are called, then you should always persevere. He will give you the grace and help required in your times of need. Don’t settle and don’t give up. Your children, your dreams, your marriage, your life, they are all worth fighting for.
The beauty of it all
Think about the battles in your life that you chose to fight through. Whether you fought to get out of debt or a bad relationship, raise god-fearing children, graduate college, whatever it was you consciously chose not to give up on, think about how you felt on the other side. In choosing to persevere, not only will you make it through, you will come out better on the other side.
Perseverance MUST finish its work so that you will be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
James 1:4
We don’t go through battles for nothing. We can allow the difficulties of our journeys to take us out or we can believe God’s word. I want to be mature and complete more than I want to be comfortable and stagnant. I don’t want to lack anything. I want every blessing God has for me. The enemy does not win when we choose to persevere, God does. I don’t know what trial you are facing today, but I encourage you to persevere. Keep fighting, keep praying, keep hoping, keep trusting. God promises that on the other side you will be mature and complete, lacking no good thing. Choose perseverance. Choose maturity. Choose completion. Choose abundance.
Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.
Galatians 6:9