Therefore my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain. 1 Corinthians 15:58
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I really do enjoy the Bible because each time I read it I learn about people who were called but resisted, people who trusted God and never regret it. I also learn about both sinners and saints. I learn about people who went through intense sufferings and their amazing victory. The Bible honors men at their best, and honestly assesses them at their worst From Moses to Abraham, to Jonah, Gideon, Ester, Oh! David one of my favorite, and Joseph to mention just a few.
Some of them were weak one moment and fearless the next. Others stupid one moment and smart the next. They believe one minute and doubt the next; At times they worship, and at times they worry; At one moment they are courageous, the next they are cowardly; Sort of like you and I right? They were not always at their best right? Let’s look at some examples:
• Abraham was called but moved somewhere else and later receives a great promise from God, but instead of patiently waiting for God's provision, he goes to bed with Hagar his wife's servant in order to produce a son and we know all the trouble that caused and is causing now.
• Moses receives the most dramatic revelation of God at the bush, but succumbs to fits of anger and did not enter the Promise Land.
• David, the great godly king of Israel's golden years, the one who defeated the giant Goliath as a boy is also known to be an adulterer and a murderer.
• John the Baptist announces the coming of the Messiah, but once imprisoned, his doubts overcome his faith.
• Peter the one who says, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We believe and know that you are the Holy One of God." (John 6:68, 69) And yet he later denied the Lord not once, not twice but thrice.
Believe it or not I am comforted because I also fail sometimes, I too miss the mark, I too fall down, I too fall short sometimes, and often time I feel like a failure and feel shame but like them, I refuse to give up. I get back up by the grace of God. When David failed, what did he do? He cried out to God, "Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me." (Psalm 51:10) and I know how God rewarded him. "The LORD upholds all those who fall and lifts up all who are bowed down." (Psalm 145:14).
Joseph, the son of Jacob went through some awful times but his rewards were amazing.
My advice to you is to hold on persevere, hold fast, hang on tight through the ups and downs of this world. Often we let shame and disappointments keep us down but do not give up on His people. He loves us too much to throw in the towel. He sent His son to die to guarantee our victory. Christ already conquered the world on our behalf “in the world you will have trouble, but take courage, I have conquered the world." John 16:33, praise the Lord! The battle is not yours but the Lord. Steadfast a little longer and you will experience the glory of God in due time.
Praise the Lord!
