Faith Perseveres

A series look on how faith motivates us to obedience (part 10 of 10)

by Kelly Dixon

Reading: Hebrews 12:1-11; James 1:2-8

Daily spending quiet time with my Lord is what keeps me going in a life that is full of struggles. Have you ever been reading your Bible or a devotional book during your quiet time when you were hit right between the eyes with the reality of the way you are living and that the Lord was unhappy about it? I have on more occasions than I would like to admit. One such occasion happened just the other day as I was reading a book by Lysa Terkeurst, The Bathtub is Overflowing but I feel Drained, which is an excellent read for all moms that are like me – feeling defeated by mommy stress. About half way through she has a chapter on Super Mom v/s Slacker Mom, at the end of the chapter she encourages the reader to determine if they have idols in the following way . . .

"God is aware of the secrets of our hearts – even the ones we can't admit to ourselves. As our Creator, He knows us intimately. He can help us to search our hearts and determine any changes we should make in our lives. He can shine a light into our hearts in the darkest places, and open our eyes to His desires for us. Spend sometime in prayer about your priorities, and ask God to reveal to you any idols in your life you might not be aware of.”After reading this, I said to myself, “I know what things keep me from focusing on Jesus. I am already aware of the idols in my life.” But then I felt the Holy Spirit drawing me to petition the throne of God. So I did. A still small voice gently told me the truth. I wasn't aware of something very important. I was allowing the problems in my life to keep me from focusing on Jesus. I was idolizing the problems and allowing them to consume my time - focusing on them and not on Jesus and how He is strengthening me through them. Wow, what a lesson! Wow, what a discovery. I thought I was persevering by just living day to day and enduring the problems. When in reality God was trying to tell me that I was idolizing the problem by enduring the way I thought I should endure instead of focusing on Jesus and allowing Him to show me how to endure.

The writer of Hebrews is unknown, however, I believe it was a person who God thought had great faith because He, through them, shows us many lessons of living out our faith. Hebrews 12:2-3 tells us that we should be focused on Jesus and directs us to do so by looking at the way Jesus endured,

“Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, Who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider Him Who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.”Jesus endured so much while He was here on earth. He endured intense opposition, ridicule, criticism, slandering and alienation. Yet, thinking back over His life there was no complaining, no grumbling, no arguing with the Father. Yes, He did ask God the Father to remove the cup when He was praying in the garden of Gethsemane, but only if it was the Father's will. No negotiating with the Father's will, just petitioning the throne about His will. And why did Jesus face such torment with great perseverance? The writer of Hebrews tells us it was “for the joy set before Him” He endured the cross. The joy! The joy of knowing that the trials and tribulation would last but a while, but in the end the ones He loved would be able to live with Him forever. Because His love was so deep, He looked forward to the joy. He didn't focus on the problem!

Are you struggling to persevere at this time in your life? I was so wrapped up with the struggles that my family is currently enduring that I didn't realize I was idolizing them, allowing them to draw me away from God. They were consuming me and when I learned this lesson from the Lord He showed me the difference between my enduring and persevering through my endurance. For when you just endure, the focus is on you and what you are doing to get through the struggle. However, when you persevere, the focus turns to Jesus and you “Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” (James 1:2)

Prayer: Heavenly Father, I have idolized the problems in my life allowing them to take my focus off You and the joy of developing my faith. How I want to persevere, yet I do not know how. Give me the wisdom to know what to do so I can persevere and that You will be glorified in the way I live through the struggles of my life. In Jesus Name. Amen.

Deepening The Walk Mini Bible Study: This faith series is being accompanied with mini Bible studies for further in depth study. When Ladies for Jesus offers these type studies, we call them “Deepening The Walk.” It is our prayer that you use this extra material to assist you in deepening your walk with the Lord.Deepening The Walk Mini Bible Study page.