I came across the verse, 1:6, one morning and it stuck with
me for a couple days. It was about three days later I got a call that was
devastating to me. My summer plans had just fallen apart and I had no earthly
idea what I was going to do. For the past three months, I thought I was
preparing myself to go into this internship and to minister to high school
kids, showing them Jesus’ love. I had gotten so excited for what God was going
to do in me for the summer. And then all of the sudden, I got the call saying I
did not get the internship.
I could have given up on all the preparing Christ was doing
in me the past months but I chose not to. This verse reminded me, ‘Kathryn, God
started preparing you three months ago, He is not just going to give up and
walk out on His preparations for you.’
Although I did not get the internship that I thought and believed would
help me in my walk with Christ, does not mean there is no hope for me.
When Christ died on the cross, His work for us began. When we first believed, His work in us began. Now we have the Holy Spirit living in us. It is
through the Holy Spirit we will grow in grace until He has completed his work
in our lives. God is so much bigger than
the things on this earth. This includes His love for us. It can be so easy for
the Devil to knock us down making us fill discouraged through earthly things.
When we feel discouraged, we must remember, God’s love for us is bigger and He
will not give up on us. Yeah, it might stink when we don’t get something we
believe we should, but we must remind ourselves how much greater God’s plans
are for us. When life doesn’t go how we thought, look to God and trust in His
ways. Look at it as an opportunity to grow in your faith while you wait on His
plans to unfold. Because He, who began a good work in us, will carry it out and
we get to put our faith and hope in His works.
The day after I read verse 6, I read verse 29, For it has been granted to you on behalf of
Christ not only to believe in him, but also to surfer for him.
In my study bible underneath verse 29 it states: Paul
considered it a privilege to suffer for Christ. When times of suffering occur,
if we faithfully represent Christ, our example and our message affect others
and us for good. Suffering has these benefits-
1)
It takes our eyes off of earthly comforts.
2) It
weeds out superficial believers
3) It
strengthens the faith of those who endure
4) It
serves as an example to others who may follow us
When we suffer for our faith, it does not mean that we have
done something wrong. In fact, it verifies that we have been faithful. Use
suffering to build your character. Don’t resent it or let it tear you down.
I share this with y’all because after I got that phone call,
my mind instantly went back to what I had read the days before. And it was
through His word that gave me the strength and courage to put my faith in Him.
When looking at the world’s view, it all could so easily make me feel hopeless
and want to give up on Him. Having His word in me provided me with the hope
in His reasons. Instead of giving up and walking away, I looked at it as an
opportunity for my faith in Him to be tested and to grow. Because He who began
a good work in me, will not give up. My prayers now are for the summer ahead of
me, which I have no idea what is in store. But I know He does, and my faith is
in Him.
Wherever you are today, don’t give up on His works within
you. If things aren’t going your way and they make you feel discouraged, remind
yourself God is so much bigger than the things on this earth. Let your faith in
Him grow; let Him teach you how to grow in His grace.
But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining
toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God
has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. Philippians 3:15-16
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