“Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.” -James 1:12 (ESV)
Have you ever walked away from something because it was too hard to wait? Maybe you’ve been staring at something with little to no movement in your life, and all you can see is a big gap between what God says versus what you’re experiencing. The struggle is real. The challenge is holding on and not withdrawing when things don’t happen quickly or easily. Calling it quits seems much more manageable than standing in faith for an extended time.
Do you remember Sarah? She waited about 25 years to see a promise fulfilled (Genesis 12:4; 21:5). She was staring at an outrageous gap. It was so far-fetched that she actually laughed at God’s Word (Genesis 10:12). Against all hope, with a dead womb and no chance of creating life, she eventually changed her mind and judged God faithful (Hebrews 11:11). She determined that God’s Word was indisputable. Nothing could talk her out of God’s conclusion. Her heart grabbed onto God’s faithfulness, and that which was impossible surrendered to God’s truth. God’s Word resurrected her dead situation.
If there was a time to stand and determine in our hearts that God is faithful, it’s now. We have the same God as Sarah! However, we tend to give up when tricked into believing God’s Word isn’t working. There was a time when I was pursuing the Lord, and out of nowhere, my mind was attacked with lies I had previously overcome. The assault wouldn’t stop, and I spent months fighting while praying the Word, with no relief. I was growing weary. Finally, I got fed up. Something rose up inside me, and out of the deepest place of my spirit, I commanded those lies to “Get out”!
That struggle had been pressuring me to quit before I saw the victory. It was trying to wear me down and wear me out. It was attempting to appear much bigger and stronger as if no progress was being made. Even when nothing was happening, I continued praying. And I believe because I stood, the assault surrendered and never returned. My breakthrough would have been forfeited if I had given up.
My friend, in this life, we will experience trials. They will try to re-route us and get us off course. They’ll try to agitate us to the point of throwing in the towel when it seems like nothing is happening. However, we can always outlast it (2 Timothy 4:5). There will be times of being pushed to our limit, but our hearts will have to become unfastened from the problem and remain focused on what God says. And in times of testing, God will not allow the temptation to be more than we can stand (1 Corinthians 10:13).
We must cooperate with what God says no matter how long it takes. And it’s okay if you feel weak because the Spirit takes hold of us in our frailty and empowers us (Romans 8:26). So, I’m urging you not to accept things the way they appear to be. Hang on to the words of Jesus, for they are life. If you trust them, you’ll be empowered to stand as you continue to walk out your destiny. You’re not alone, and He never meant for you to do this all by yourself (1 John 4:4).