I really don’t struggle to trust that God is faithful. In recent years, I’ve come to understand that this is a gift (the gift of faith?), and I don’t take it for granted. This faith has sustained me through the most difficult circumstances, the lowest valleys, my darkest days. Even when everything seems hopeless, by God’s …
It wasn’t my intention to lose momentum so soon after starting Wield The Word. But we never intend to lose anything, do we? God’s Plans Are Not Mine Proverbs 16:9 says, “The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps.” Later in Proverbs (19:21), we are told that, “Many are the …
Click here to read the previous posts in this series. According to Hebrews 12:2, another part of God’s prescription for endurance is looking to Jesus. Why is this important? What does it actually mean? And why does it help us to endure? A familiar and much-loved hymn gives us a glimpse: Turn your eyes upon …
Click here to read the previous posts in this series. The next thing we are told to do in Hebrews 12 is to lay aside the sin that so easily entangles us. Does it seem a little harsh to talk to a weary, discouraged person about their sin? Does it seem like adding just another …
“Don’t give up what you know in the light when you don’t understand what’s in the dark.” (Chuck Smith) When you’re confused or needing answers or full of uncertainty… when you feel lost… when you’ve been blindsided by an unexpected wave in the storm… remember what you knew for certain when life was going smoothly. …
Click here to read the previous posts in this series. The first thing we are told to do in Hebrews 12:1 is to lay aside every weight. Most of the time, we are weary or discouraged because we are carrying heavy burdens, or too many burdens, or both! There are situations and thoughts that are …
Click here to read the previous posts in this series. Last week, I talked about the necessity of surrounding ourselves with others who can support and encourage and inspire us when we’re struggling to endure. This is a lesson that has taken me many, many years to learn, but oh! How rich the rewards! Some …
Click here to see all the posts in this series. Hebrews 12:1 starts off with “since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses” and leads into “let us run with endurance“. Being surrounded by these witnesses is an important part of being able to run with endurance. The chapter before our passage …
Click here to see all the posts in this series. Sometimes life is just really, really hard. Even when we are not necessarily struggling in our walk with the Lord, we can struggle with endurance, with discouragement, with weariness. It can seem like continuing on in our current state is too much to bear. How …
All sunshine makes a desert But rain brings fruit and flowers. So if our lives will blossom, We need our share of showers. – Samuel (Anna) Stoltzfus of Jersey Shore, PA – (From a cookbook in my kitchen)