Courageous Perseverance

In the Bible, patience is not a passive acceptance of circumstances. It is a courageous perseverance in the face of suffering and difficulty. Warren W. Wiersbe

First let me say that I know there are so many greater trials going on right now and the trial I am going to discuss is very insignificant. I am very aware of this. I just want to share where the Lord has brought me in the last 18 months, so here is my small journey…

I have been at my current job for 18 months now. Four months into it I knew it was not the job for me. Six months into it I was so overwhelmed I didn't know how I would be able to go to work the next day. And here I am 18 months later. I am able to tell you that the only way I get through the day is knowing that the Lord goes with me to work everyday and sustains me. I know that someday this trial will end. I know that there is a bigger reason I am in this job and I have seen a lot of sanctification come from this trial.

I am not married and I don't have children. I have sometimes feared that I am missing out on some serious sanctification that comes from having a family. Children can squeeze your sponge (see September 12, 2006 entry for explanation of sponge squeezing) and expose what is in your heart (which is a gift from God.) Husbands speak into their wives lives and help them see areas of sin that they might not see and vice versa. I don't have either in my life and at times have been concerned that my sins of laziness, selfishness, pride, etc... were growing out of control.

The Lord in His great mercy heard my concern and answered this prayer in a different way. He gave me this job. I have had to cry out to the Lord for help to get through the day. On the days that it just seems too overwhelming I know that I have tried to get through the day on my own strength and not lean on Him. This job has forced me to ask for accountability from others and help. This has helped address a lot of pride and also been so refreshing to invite people to speak into my life to help me see what I need to do differently because what I am doing isn't working. This has helped a lot.

I have seen that the Lord has used this job to "squeeze my sponge" to expose my heart. Sometimes it feels like He is squeezing the sponge a little too tight trying to get every last drop of water out... but I know that He is wanting to fill me with more of Him and His glory and He wants to get all of that laziness, selfishness, and pride out of me, which was my prayer.

He does hear our prayers. He might not answer them the way we think He might, but He is listening and He will answer our prayers.