A Journey of Discovery

It seems like God is never finished teaching us new lessons and leading us down new paths. Well, just recently I felt like God gave me a new challenge. Would I be willing to face hardships and trials in life or will I simply take the easy way around hardships? The hard way would bring me into a closer relationship with Jesus, where as the easy way may just keep me where I am. Would there be a new substance or a depth to my relationship with Jesus if I took the easy way? Through the hard way a reliance, a desperation, and a need for the Jesus is produced, but will this be produced through the easy way? It may be produced, but not to the extent of the hard way.

In case you were wondering, I chose the hard way. I have been on a journey of discovery lately and what I'm discovering is that the only thing that really truly matters is Jesus. The only thing that is worthwhile is my relationship with Jesus. I've known this in my head for many years but now it has begun to trickle down into my heart. I may be able to do many things but if my focus is not centered on Jesus, what is the point? What greater reason to live is there than to have a relationship with Jesus? I can seek after a job, a career, a house, a family, power, money and many other things. These things can be good but what are they without Jesus? They will all pass away and they can all change. But the one thing that I believe is secure is Jesus, is our God, He who loves us and will never leave us, this is who I live my life for. Sometimes I complain and sometimes I cry because things are tough, but the greatest comfort is knowing that God is always there. Always. At times I've felt alone, but I now know that all I need to do is shift my focus from myself to Jesus.

This path I'm choosing, this hard way, can bring a deep relationship that will last for eternity! Eternity! What an idea! What is 60-90 years of life on earth compared to an eternity? It doesn't compare! I would much rather spend my time here on earth seeking after something worthwhile that will last an eternity, than for the things that will pass away. Whats better than a relationship with the God who is God of heaven and earth and time itself!

Hard Times Means Perseverance

Have you every had an experience or situation where it seems like the world is saying just give up, let it go, and almost everything inside you is screaming and groaning, this is so hard!? But then you remember that God spoke to you and that you felt confident that you heard Him correctly.

Well I am finding myself in a situation that I find hard and I know that I need to press into God more. I find it frustrating that whenever I face a difficult situation I have to remind myself that I need to press into God more because I had been letting myself slack off. But I think that is a blog for another day.

1 Peter 1:6-7 says "In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith--of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire--may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed."

Verse 6 says now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief. That means their will soon be an end!

1 Peter also says in:

1:24-25 "All men are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of the Lord stands forever."

So the rough times will end and if the good times, the times of glory are like flowers which wither and fall then the times of glory end as well. So what is left? What do we have left to stand on? What can we put our hope towards? Just what it says in 1 Peter, the word of the Lord stands forever.

So during this rough time I can press into God and look forward to the end. Just like the worship song with the line:

Yes, I can see a light that is coming

for the heart that holds on

So what do I need to do? Persevere. Perseverance means to be steadily persistent in a course of action, or purpose, or state in spite of difficulties, obstacles and discouragement. I like the word tenacity which is a synonym for perseverance. Tenacity meant adhesiveness like a glue, which is probably why it means, a dogged and determined holding on, today. I want to have perseverance in my walk with the Lord, I want to have tenacity as I go through life. Having a dogged and determined grip on the things that I have heard from God.

Whats the purpose of all this? Jesus and His Kingdom. Their is another worship song which has a line in it that gives me hope:

When we arrive at eternity's shore where death is just a memory and tears are no more

Hardships will come and go, Glory will come and go, but the only thing that will remain constant is our Lord and His love for us.

Just some thoughts:)