"More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us." - Romans 5:3-5The Christian life would be easy if the space in time was small between when we first believe God's promises and when we receive what He promised. If you could read about it one day and get it the next, Wow - wouldn't that be great!?
But the hard truth is: life's not like that.
The hard part is in the waiting between God's promise and His answer; and even harder, when the waiting comes with uncertainties. Where's this going? Where am I going to end up? What's my future look like? Why is God taking things from me? What's my purpose? The reality is, we just don't know how circumstances will play out and it's this "not-knowing" that crushes us. We doubt because we don't know. We worry and despair because we don't know. We falter and sometimes fail - all because we don't know. If only we knew how this trial was going to end, we would be okay. But we don't. We all have areas of uncertainty where we need to hold tightly onto what God has said while we wait for Him to work. I couldn't go forward another day if I didn't believe what He told me. So here's what we each must do for ourselves and for the sake of the brotherhood of believers: We must review His promises all the time. We must remind ourselves that our faith is in God and not in what He does for us. He knows what He has promised, He can't lie, and He can't forget. He will deliver on time, all the time. Who else can make promises like that?
God knows that it's hard for us to walk by faith. So He assures us, I'm not going to leave you wondering what I'm going to do. I don't want you to be overcome by fear. So I'm going to make some promises to you so that you can get through the difficult days. You don't have to take your view of life only from what you can see happening right in front of you. You're not imprisoned by the crazy talk someone is putting into your head that you know isn't true. Hang onto the things that I told you.And while we wait, while we persevere, and while we encourage those within the brotherhood, God builds our faith.
Keep the Faith.
Love the Brotherhood.
