Romans 5:3-5 (NIV) states, “Christians should rejoice in their sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and that hope does not disappoint because God’s love has been poured into their hearts through the Holy Spirit.”
You might be feeling like you are just constantly being bombarded with one thing after the next, and the attacks seem endless, and all you want to do is give up and throw in the towel, just surrender, because you’re tired and you see no other way around your troubles, your frustrations, your anxieties, your depression, and your shortcomings, but God says, “Hold on just a little while longer,” and why not, you have endured this far, you’re still standing, therefore, you will overcome. God is a good GOD and He will surely supply all your needs. You aren’t broken, even if you feel broken, you’re just bent because you let the storm that was brewing all around you on the inside of you, but you have to learn that when the storm is brewing, to not let it on the inside of you, this will only dim your light and crack your foundation, this is why it’s important to stay fasting, praying, seeking God’s word and meditating, and fellowshipping on Sunday’s with your fellow brothers and sisters at church. Staying connected to those who love the Lord as you love the Lord matters. It will strengthen your flesh and your resolve in the Lord.
When we endure, while we are enduring, the Bible tells us in Psalm 30:5 (NIV), “Weeping may endure for a night, but rejoicing comes in the morning,” emphasizing to us that sorrow may be present now, but joy and God’s favor are ultimately enduring. As overcomers, we are followers of Christ who are meant to successfully resist the power and temptations of the world’s system. Overcoming requires complete depending upon God for direction, purpose, strength, and fulfillment to follow His plan for our lives. Jesus promised great reward to those who overcome in the book of Revelation. Overcomers are promised that they will eat from the Tree of Life. “Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God,” Revelation 2:7 (NIV). Are you still not standing even after everything you have been through; all you have endured? You lost your job at the wrong time because you just purchased a home or a brand new car, you and your spouse just found out you’re both expecting again but your first child isn’t even three months old yet, however will you make ends meet, you just buried your son/daughter and the grief is too much, your wife or husband just got caught committing adultery and your emotions are all over the place because you’re now feeling betrayed, or, you’re tired and just want to end it all, wondering, who’s going to miss you, no one loves you or cares, or maybe you’re battling an addiction that’s too hard for you to overcome on your own, either way, no matter your circumstance or the situation, God is very much still in control and He sits high on the throne, you are not and have not been forgotten about. Stop believing the lies of Satan and his minions. You are only being attacked, you and your family or loved one’s because Satan knows you are close to your breakthrough, close to your blessings and what God has for you, and he will do anything to keep you from reaching it and attaining it. This is what he does, to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. But Jesus said, “I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep” John 10:10 (KJV).
Continue to endure if you must endure, there is deliverance and healing in your endurance, this is why eventually you will overcome. Never cease from praying or giving God praise because everything is just a TEST. Sometimes God wants to see how we’re gonna handle the situation, respond, act, and conduct ourselves, just like Job, He’s waiting to see if we’re going to continue praising Him or decide instead to curse Him. What’s a given fact is that we are to praise God through the good and the bad always, not put Him back on the shelf to collect dust once we’ve received what we have been praying and asking for, but once things start going downhill again, we decide to take God off the shelf to ask for favor, grace, and mercy. John 16:33 (NIV)tells us, “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” These are hopeful words, but how do we apply them in our lives? How do we “take heart” and not only endure in the race, but overcome the obstacles set before us? God will take us through these circumstances and have us come out on the other side as an overcomer. We must run our race with endurance, and why not? We are still standing after all, looking to Jesus all the way. Jesus will carry us through every storm, don’t doubt this and don’t lose faith. God will finish to completion the work He has started within us. We know who has the final say in our story, no matter what happens. Christ has already overcome; and because of that, we overcome. Amen. Until next time folks, stay safe and stay blessed!
