Scarecrow
Member
I have often struggled through the tests in life that God sets before me, as everyone has. I was pretty proud of myself a few years ago when I came to the realization that testing led to the building of my character, and my character is the only thing I get to take with me to heaven. But just this morning I had an epiphany about testing.
I have read posts by individuals requesting prayer and others requesting moral support and I began to contemplate testing again. Most of the night I couldn't sleep because I am struggling with a number of major tests in my own life, and I know a dear friend is being tested severely at this time as well. As I laid awake I thought about all the circumstances currently in my life and how in the past I have fallen into little pity parties and thought "what's the use!" I didn't want to have that feeling of futility again and finally I just fell asleep.
When I woke up this morning I was tired and just laid there in bed thinking about testing again. The word perseverance came to mind, like a long distance runner persevering to finish the race even if he didn't win. As obvious as it should be I had never put the two together as they came together this morning. I realized that part of testing, character building, was to improve my ability to persevere. I thought about how those that give up never see the finish line, and those that finish never forget it. I thought about the many years of study and all the tests a scholar has to take to earn a few initials behind his name and how he must have persevered to earn them - few ever do. I thought about how few if any of the things in life worth having come easy.
Luke 18:1-5 And he told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart. He said, "In a certain city there was a judge who neither feared God nor respected man. And there was a widow in that city who kept coming to him and saying, 'Give me justice against my adversary.' For a while he refused, but afterward he said to himself, 'Though I neither fear God nor respect man, yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will give her justice, so that she will not beat me down by her continual coming.'"
James 1:25 But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing.
I realized just this morning that perseverance is what makes me worthy of the prize, and the prize is the reward for overcoming the test(s). Once I saw things from that perspective my resolve to overcome was strengthened significantly. Now I intend to focus on the prize and not the struggles that lead to it. I get to keep the prize, the struggles only serve to strengthen me.
Am I worthy? Yes, I am a child of God.
Will I see the prize? Yes, if I persevere.
I have read posts by individuals requesting prayer and others requesting moral support and I began to contemplate testing again. Most of the night I couldn't sleep because I am struggling with a number of major tests in my own life, and I know a dear friend is being tested severely at this time as well. As I laid awake I thought about all the circumstances currently in my life and how in the past I have fallen into little pity parties and thought "what's the use!" I didn't want to have that feeling of futility again and finally I just fell asleep.
When I woke up this morning I was tired and just laid there in bed thinking about testing again. The word perseverance came to mind, like a long distance runner persevering to finish the race even if he didn't win. As obvious as it should be I had never put the two together as they came together this morning. I realized that part of testing, character building, was to improve my ability to persevere. I thought about how those that give up never see the finish line, and those that finish never forget it. I thought about the many years of study and all the tests a scholar has to take to earn a few initials behind his name and how he must have persevered to earn them - few ever do. I thought about how few if any of the things in life worth having come easy.
Luke 18:1-5 And he told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart. He said, "In a certain city there was a judge who neither feared God nor respected man. And there was a widow in that city who kept coming to him and saying, 'Give me justice against my adversary.' For a while he refused, but afterward he said to himself, 'Though I neither fear God nor respect man, yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will give her justice, so that she will not beat me down by her continual coming.'"
James 1:25 But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing.
I realized just this morning that perseverance is what makes me worthy of the prize, and the prize is the reward for overcoming the test(s). Once I saw things from that perspective my resolve to overcome was strengthened significantly. Now I intend to focus on the prize and not the struggles that lead to it. I get to keep the prize, the struggles only serve to strengthen me.
Am I worthy? Yes, I am a child of God.
Will I see the prize? Yes, if I persevere.
