The Power of Perseverance

Remember last week when I felt sad, but the Lord totally redeemed the situation and brought me so much joy? I came across this sermon and just as any sermon or scripture always does, it helped restore my hope and joy amidst the sadness.

If you have been reading or following our blog for a while, you know we are waiting and expecting our breakthrough soon. This sermon was all about the power of perseverance while waiting, which was just what I needed to hear.

We are humans and when we face a difficulty it’s so easy for us to want to throw in the towel. But, this sermon helped me remember some of the greatest breakthroughs come on the other side of persevering through those tough trials and circumstances.

There are certain harvests that we only reap when we persevere through tough times. When we persevere well, without giving up, we will reap the harvest in due time.  Let us not become weary in doing good, for in due time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Galatians 6:9

The Pastor mentioned 3 keys to persevering well:

1 – Remind yourself of God’s character – As I’ve posted about before, fear is never from the Lord. Any time a thought of fear or doubt enters your mind, it is always from the enemy. We know that every time we take a step into our destiny and God’s will,  it advances the kingdom of God. When God’s kingdom increases, the enemies must decrease, right? Except the enemy doesn’t like this. He will do everything in his power to make you question God, give you fear and doubts, and feed you lies.

Combined with fear, feelings of weariness can cause us to view God’s character through the lens’ of our circumstances. When we do this it encourages us to take our situation into our own hands. We throw ourselves a pity party and think ‘poor me’.  We start to think God doesn’t love us or He doesn’t have good plans for us.

Instead of viewing God through our circumstances, what about if we viewed our circumstances through God’s character. So we are experiencing the same circumstances as the above scenario, but we view them from His perspective. When we do this it enables us to view everything from His eyes and reflect on His word and His promises. We are reminded that He is faithful and He works all things together for our good. This gives us an opportunity to look back and see how He has been faithful to us in all circumstances.

Most of the time if you feel like quitting it’s most likely because you have lost sight of God’s character. Remember He never forsakes us. Those who know your name trust in you, for you, Lord, have never forsaken those who seek you. Psalm 9:10

2 – Embrace the process. God is most excited about the process of the breakthrough. The waiting journey that Colby and I have been on has been around 650 days. 650 days of waiting! The breakthrough, which will be the day we find out we are pregnant, is only one day. One day! Don’t you think that God is doing something in us while we are waiting that is way more important than the breakthrough we are waiting on? The character that we build while waiting will affect every day of our future, but the breakthrough is just one day. The process we are going through is much more beneficial than receiving the end result.

I hope this encourages you not to despise the process that is leading to your breakthrough. When you despise the process, you prolong it!  Embrace what God is trying to teach you instead of ignoring it. Don’t be so excited for your breakthrough, that you forget about the character that is being built during the process. Think of the corruption that can happen if we receive God’s blessing without the character. I know I don’t want to be a mom, until I’m confident the Lord has instilled everything in me that prepares me for the role ahead. His timing is perfect and He never delays. He is just as excited for us to reach our breakthrough as we are, because His glory is tied up in our success.

Imagine digging a well. It would take a long time, right? But, the longer it takes and the deeper you cut, the more you will receive. Our lives and the journeys and trials we experience are the same way. The journey to our babies is just like digging a well and we will drink from this well for the rest of our life. It will benefit us not only as parents, but for years and years to come.

Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. James 1:4

3 – We are not alone.  God is with us every step of this journey. What the enemy means for evil, the Lord always turns into good. Genesis 50:20. When we go through a test, a testimony is always formed. The power of perseverance is that it creates a testimony in us and through us that everyone around us can see. This excites me so much. I can’t wait to experience our breakthrough to be able to share with everyone how good God is, how He is a God of miracles and how He is a God who keeps His promises. For Jehovah God is our Light and our Protector. He gives us grace and glory. No good thing will he withhold from those who walk along his paths. Psalm 84:11

Are you holding out for a promise that has been delayed? Are you in a situation that seems hopeless? Does God feel far? Has God called you to pursue something that is making you face a lot of resistance? Remind yourself of God’s character, embrace the process, and remember that you are not alone.

If you have time, go and listen. The actual sermon starts around the 42nd minute.