Nicole Marie Writes: Perseverance

Friday, September 9, 2011

Believe {Journey of Providence Day 5}

When I looked at the trials and who God was through the trials,

my view was skewed.

My thoughts and emotions were a train wreck...

each threatening to flip the next car of the track.

Only when I began to,

“Look at circumstances through the promises of God.” {Charles Swindoll}

...Did my journey, the detour, begin to take on new meaning.

From etsy.com on Pinterest via Simply Created by Cole

It is then I finally started to trust that:

God is intimately involved in our lives down to the smallest detail...

Even the the detours and trials.

He walked the same earth we walk.

He understood the same feelings we have.

He experienced pain for us.

Pain on the cross.

2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. 4 Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. 5 If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. 6 But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. 7 That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; 8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does.

James 1:2-8

We will face trials, detours, in this life.

If we take the steps toward Him, persevere, He will give us wisdom.

We must believe in that wisdom and that God’s plan is good and best.

And pretty soon we come to this...

3 Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4 perseverance, character; and character, hope....

Romans 5:3-4

...Here is where it gets good friends...

Joining 5 other writers, kindred friends, who are sharing the journeys they are on.

September 5th-16th, sharing the words God has laid upon our hearts and breathed into our souls. Each one different, yet weaving our lives together.

If you like, you may grab the Journey button over on the sidebar to share with others. Just right click on the button and copy link location.

Journey Towards a Place of Rest

Journey Out of Fear

Journey Toward True Friendship

Journey Towards a Prayerful Life

Journey into the Word

By His Grace,

Cole

Thursday, September 8, 2011

Perseverance {Journey of Providence Day 4}

The Journey is not over...

Is it possible to trust God’s goodness and have Hope He will provide in the times of trial? Provide in the the detour times?

Ruth and Naomi have traveled back to Bethlehem. They have made their home and now it comes time for Ruth to work out in the fields.

Here comes the Perseverance...

1 Now Naomi had a relative on her husband’s side, from the clan of Elimelech, a man of standing, whose name was Boaz.

2 And Ruth the Moabitess said to Naomi, “Let me go to the fields and pick up the leftover grain behind anyone in whose eyes I find favor.”

Naomi said to her, “Go ahead, my daughter.” 3 So she went out and began to glean in the fields behind the harvesters. As it turned out, she found herself working in a field belonging to Boaz, who was from the clan of Elimelech.

Ruth 2:1-3 NIV

It is no coincidence she finds herself in the field of Boaz.

Like Ruth, God will provide for us.

He will provide through His Word, others, and us taking the step towards Him.

But, we have to take the step.

... All that time I lost in letting the trials, detours, of my particular circumstance cloud my view of God’s will. While I never stopped believing God and in God. I lost Hope that His will was good and best.

I quit doing the work.

I allowed the circumstance to “tell” me it was okay. It wasn’t.

But, as I clung unto that verse given to me by my mentor, dear friend...

God provided the way.

By His Strength and Perseverance...

I began taking the steps towards God’s Will, not mine.

Steps toward Hope, that things will work out.

That they will be good, oh so good.

James 1:2-4 NIV

Slowly I was learning.

Learning,

It is more reliable to trust an unseen God than visible circumstances....