So Abraham waited patiently in faith and succeeded in seeing the promise fulfilled. Hebrews 6:15
Stay Steadfast. Hold. Don’t panic. Keep your eyes on the prize. Believe that a better day is coming. You can’t see it, but your future is bright and good. God loves you and is good. This too will pass. Jesus will bring victory.
These are some of the thoughts I try to repeat as I walk through this flurry of adversity. I have faced trials before, many trials. But this series of trials seems to be lingering longer than normal. I’m exhausted. I wake up every morning feeling as if I did not rest. It’s as if my mind continued to dance in room of adversity all night instead of resting peacefully. Heaviness is in the air. It’s not only a physical heaviness, but also a spiritual heaviness. The dark and toxic air wants to choke my hope and darken my optimism. Fire battles rage, Covid battles rage, relationship battles rage and physical battles rage.
I would like to think that I am an optimistic person. It’s in my nature, whether it be learned or natural, to look at the bright side of things. But, when trials last over a period of months, and the atmosphere is filled with toxic air and the sun cannot be seen for weeks, my human spirit starts to get tired and my optimism starts to wane. Even a marathon runner knows the finish line is coming and by keeping that thought in the forefront he is able to press through that final hill. However, this series of trials are lingering, and the finish line is not in sight. Making it hard to keep pressing through the never ending hills.
Endurance. Hills build endurance. Why do I need endurance? Because even though these trials will end, there will be more to come. Future trials will even be hotter and longer. Why? Because the enemy is raging. He is in his final hours and he knows it. He is backed into a corner wounded and flailing. He is attempting to do as much damage as he can before he admits defeat.
The world is oblivious to this evil. It has adapted to the toxic air. It has learned how to breath despite the pollution pouring into its lungs. God’s world does not include toxins. Gods world does not include strife. Gods world does not include threats and death. But the enemies world has convinced itself that this is the best it can do. This world does not know God, so it is lost in its perspective. It is drowning in toxic thoughts and adapting, instead of fighting for life and truth.
As I look out the window today, my view is dark. Smoke filled air has settled over the land and the sun is no where to be seen. But, the sun is still out there. It rises in the sky and passes by minute by minute to measure each day. I cannot see it, but it’s there. It is waiting for its moment to breakthrough. Jesus is also waiting for his moment to breakthrough. Though the battles rage, and we cannot see him, he too is just waiting for the right moment to enter in and bring His victory. Knowing this, I take a deep breath in and slowly exhale, then repeat. Enduring the battles and waiting on the promise.
Breathlife 