"We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. And this hope will not lead to disappointment because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love" - Romans 5:3-5 [NLT]
What a year 2016 has been, what a year. Cursed right from the start from Kylie Jenner's words of 2016 being the year of 'realising stuff', it has definitely been the year of numerous unexpected revelations that have been extremely impactful in my life in particular.
The most important thing I have learnt this year, which I am still trying to learn is perseverance. Now I'm not gonna lie, I have a habit of giving up quite easily (okay very easily), hanging quite literally by my fingernails (and not my fingertips because that stage was passed longggg ago) with constant thoughts of giving up and quitting university. It's been a rough couple of months, it almost feels like a lifetime, trying to balance part-time work and attempting to get out of bed to reach the last 15 minutes of my lectures; with assignment deadlines that seemed to pop out of nowhere, time just seemed to be disappearing and I felt that I was soon going to lose the plot!
BUT GOD!!!!!! *breaks into a praise dance*
No. I am joking.
There has been no breakthrough yet, no miracles, no testimonies to share as of right now but this period of my life has definitely been a learning curve, a continual journey of trust and perseverance because sometimes the answers do not come straight away and sometimes you standing in the middle of the mountain wondering why only now it's becoming more difficult to reach the top. When you are in the valley, in the low points of your life it is hard to see what is on the other side, how close you are to reaching that goal as all you can see is what is right in front of you.
It's funny, my mum told me the other day that God knows when you have done your best, when you have put in the effort, when you have struggled and failed only to struggle and fail again, it is the perseverance that he values most; knowing that you have tried and entrusted him to help you along the way, straight to the finish line. The thing I tend to forget is to ask, I usually get so focused on completing something by myself not wanting to ask for help when it is so easy to whisper a prayer and just ask God to carry us the rest of the way.
If you are an early quitter like me, trust me I know it's hard, but quitting is too easy and I'm sure you are as fed up and upset as I am of looking back on certain situations and having the 'what ifs' and 'if only' thoughts in the back of your mind. I won't tell you what is the best thing to do, all I am going to say is that you MUST, you must, you must, you must endure. I know that it is easier said than done but you do not have to go through it alone.
God values perseverance and rewards the one who endures to the end and if you simply ask, he will help you over those last hurdles as he says in Psalms 55:22: "Give your burdens to the Lord, and he will take care of you. He will not permit the godly to slip and fall" [NLT]. When you feel you are alone in the valley, God says he will be there (Psalm 23:4); claim His promises, pray continually and endure, endure, endure to the finish line because once you've reached the top, everything becomes worth it.
The most important thing I have learnt this year, which I am still trying to learn is perseverance. Now I'm not gonna lie, I have a habit of giving up quite easily (okay very easily), hanging quite literally by my fingernails (and not my fingertips because that stage was passed longggg ago) with constant thoughts of giving up and quitting university. It's been a rough couple of months, it almost feels like a lifetime, trying to balance part-time work and attempting to get out of bed to reach the last 15 minutes of my lectures; with assignment deadlines that seemed to pop out of nowhere, time just seemed to be disappearing and I felt that I was soon going to lose the plot!
BUT GOD!!!!!! *breaks into a praise dance*
No. I am joking.
There has been no breakthrough yet, no miracles, no testimonies to share as of right now but this period of my life has definitely been a learning curve, a continual journey of trust and perseverance because sometimes the answers do not come straight away and sometimes you standing in the middle of the mountain wondering why only now it's becoming more difficult to reach the top. When you are in the valley, in the low points of your life it is hard to see what is on the other side, how close you are to reaching that goal as all you can see is what is right in front of you.
It's funny, my mum told me the other day that God knows when you have done your best, when you have put in the effort, when you have struggled and failed only to struggle and fail again, it is the perseverance that he values most; knowing that you have tried and entrusted him to help you along the way, straight to the finish line. The thing I tend to forget is to ask, I usually get so focused on completing something by myself not wanting to ask for help when it is so easy to whisper a prayer and just ask God to carry us the rest of the way.
If you are an early quitter like me, trust me I know it's hard, but quitting is too easy and I'm sure you are as fed up and upset as I am of looking back on certain situations and having the 'what ifs' and 'if only' thoughts in the back of your mind. I won't tell you what is the best thing to do, all I am going to say is that you MUST, you must, you must, you must endure. I know that it is easier said than done but you do not have to go through it alone.
God values perseverance and rewards the one who endures to the end and if you simply ask, he will help you over those last hurdles as he says in Psalms 55:22: "Give your burdens to the Lord, and he will take care of you. He will not permit the godly to slip and fall" [NLT]. When you feel you are alone in the valley, God says he will be there (Psalm 23:4); claim His promises, pray continually and endure, endure, endure to the finish line because once you've reached the top, everything becomes worth it.
"Indeed we count them blessed who endure. You have heard of the perseverance of Job and seen the end intended by the Lord-that the Lord is very compassionate and merciful" - James 5:11 [NKJV]
