This is Tough! The daily trials, the ongoing pain, the mourning of what was lost.
Sometimes I have a downright, good ole' breakdown. My mom used to tell me to cry in the tub then you will feel better. I've added on to that through the years...cry in the tub, cry in your bed, cry in your closet, cry in Wal-Mart, cry and cry, but while you're at it...cry out to God.You can actually cry out to him walking through the garden supplies at Home Depot. I know, I've done it.
Remember Paul accepted that his trials were part of his calling in the ministry, and so should we.
Concern for Their Faith
Therefore, when we could no longer endure it, we thought it good to be left in Athens alone, and sent aTimothy,
our brother and minister of God, and our fellow laborer in the gospel
of Christ, to establish you and encourage you concerning your faith, bthat no one should be shaken by these afflictions; for you yourselves know that cwe are appointed to this. dFor, in fact, we told you before when we were with you that we would suffer tribulation, just as it happened, and you know. For this reason, when I could no longer endure it, I sent to know your faith, elest by some means the tempter had tempted you, and four labor might be in vain.1 Thessaloneans 3:1-5 NKJV
Hard doesn't mean you can't do it.
This is a phrase that I have told my kids through out the years. I can't tell you how many times one of my children have come to me to say that they can not do something because it was too difficult. It was then that I did my very best (not always the right way though), to teach them that YES, there will things in this life that are hard to do....like getting your butt out of bed early in the morning, studying algebraic equations, dealing with mean friends, cleaning up after YOUR dog that YOU begged us to get after he pooped on the rug, eating broccoli. The came the teen years and twenties for some of my kids: then the "hard," became more serious stuff like getting a job where you have to scrub grease pans late at night, earning gas money for the car just to get to work, remembering to pay bills on time, you know-the, "we can't wait to be an adult to get all those adult freedoms-but wait: It comes with responsibility issues??!!!
But hard doesn't mean you can't do it.
It's a choice. But when we try to do it all by ourselves, we fail. The good news, the exciting news, is that through Jesus Christ we can do it.
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| Advice from a mentor |
Years ago while in Mozambique on a mission trip I approached the full time missionary and Pastor that was a mentor to me. I told him I was very worried, concerned and upset because no matter how much I try I can not understand my bible readings. Even the children's bible I had purchased wasn't making sense in my unique brain. The devil was giving me messages like, "you are stupid, you can't even comprehend the bible, etc." He told me to not just grab the bible and open it to a random spots and read. (he called me out!) He encouraged me to pick somewhere to start and read it straight through day to day. He said that if I am obedient and persistent and patient that the Holy Spirit will speak to me through the word and will reveal truth in his time. With a burning desire to have that happen, I did what he advised me to do. Today I am praising God daily and rejoicing that being obedient actually worked!!!
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