Endure hardship

​“You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.” (2 Timothy 2:3)

We are strengthened and encouraged by the Holy Spirit as we make a conscious decision to repent, persevere, and endure hardship. We might not have been able to see the blessing due to the fog of discontentment, discouragement, and disappointment. We might have stopped along the way and asked God, “WHY?” Alfred Lord Tennyson in,“The Charge of the Light Brigade,” wrote about the plight of heroic soldiers, “Yours is not to reason why.” 

If we must ask, “WHY,” then let us do it quickly and then get on to God’s business and endure hardship. The Lord knows what he’s doing. (Isaiah 55:11) Let us fall in line. 

“An elderly preacher was rebuked by one of his deacons one Sunday morning before the service, ‘Pastor,’ said the man, ‘something must be wrong with your preaching. There’s been only one person added to the church in a whole year, and he’s just a boy.’ The minister listened, his eyes moistening and his thin hand trembling. ‘I feel it all,’ he replied, ‘but God knows I’ve tried to do my duty.’ On that day the minister’s heart was heavy as he stood before his flock.

After everyone else had left, that one boy came to him and asked, ‘Do you think if I worked hard for an education, I could become a preacher and perhaps a missionary?’ Again, tears welled up in the minister’s eyes. ‘Ah, this heals the ache I feel,’ he said. ‘Yes, I think you will become a preacher.’

Many years later an aged missionary returned to London from Africa. His name was spoken with reverence.  Nobles invited him to their homes. He had added many souls to the church of Jesus Christ. His name was Robert Moffat, the same Robert who years before had spoken to the pastor that Sunday morning.”

I know we are tired, I know it has been a long time coming, I know we have been praying and praying, and I know that in our eyes there is no change, but let us keep our hands on the plow. That one person we are praying for, that song that we sing, that person we greet at the door, that person we take time to visit, could be instrumental in drawing a multitude to Christ.

Dear Lord, move us to repent of our complaint and doubt. Helps us to not be moved, to wipe our tears, and get back to it. Help us, Lord, to persevere and endure hardship.

GiGi❤️

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