Lately God's been teaching me a lot about perseverance. I think the number one question that non-Christians always ask is why a loving God could let bad things happen to good people. It's an interesting question to me because from personal experience, I know that every hardship and struggle I've ever faced in life has only made me a stronger person and has developed a growing seed of wisdom to take into future chapters of life. Sure in the midst of it, it's tough to swallow. But I always look back with a thankful attitude because I know it brought me to a better version of myself.
My small group has been studying James this year and we recently had a discussion about what defines joy. We circled the idea for a while and in every definition it ultimately came back to coming face to face with God. Joy isn't a feeling as much as it is a personal encounter with God. We'll never really be satisfied on this earth until we've met eternity, so it only makes sense that those glimpses of joy we do experience are when we see God.
I've been chewing on this verse today: "We boast in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that sufferings produce perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us." -Romans 2b-5
I can remember being in elementary school and thinking about my future. I often thought about what it would feel like to be old enough to go to college and pondered that experience a lot. The funny part is that throughout my childhood, I never really looked beyond college. Maybe I couldn't grasp it because at the time, college was a lifetime away. Now, here I am nearly four years out of college and my life is nothing like I would have pictured it. I've certainly had an interesting roller coaster ride of challenges but I never would have ended up where I am had I never gone through those "sufferings". I have a lot more fight in me when things get tough, having experienced the things I have and I also have a better understanding about how to navigate friendships and community because of the grit that I had to walk through. God's teaching me endurance and building character in the process.
I had a good talk with a friend today regarding something that's been stuck in my head a lot lately. Sparing the details, I've realized I'm in pretty deep in regards to a living situation in my life and I'm letting it get the best of my thoughts. I'm working hard to keep my head from getting the best of me. Head games don't often end with good results. In our conversation, I determined that three years ago, I wouldn't have faced things with the wisdom I have now. Recognizing that I need to keep a sound mind and not let things get the best of me is all the cough syrup I need to keep moving forward. So that's why that verse in Romans is especially meaningful today. In everything I meet this year, I know God is shaping me and building steadfastness.
So that was a deep post. Let's end it by talking about the joyous fact that the trees are beginning to change colors. I love the changing of seasons! I welcome the new perspective it brings to life. And the fall festivities that follow. I do believe this means I need to take a weekend drive down the Natchez Trace soon…
Be well.
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