Year 27- Endure
Honestly, I've been procrastinating writing and publishing this post.
I realized a couple months ago it wasn't going to be as pretty, light, airy, or whimsical as I wanted it to be.
Since August, I've been sheltering in place. Bracing myself against the tornado of disappointment and despair hurtling at me. I know many of you have been in a similar place for a good portion of 2021. I hope the worst is passing and you're stepping into the Light as a new year begins- as I am!
My 27th birthday passed in October, and God came through once again with my most treasured gift. He gave me my verb.
Can you use context clues to figure it out?
Did you guess "Endure?"
BINGO!
This year, God is calling me to ENDURE.
I feel God calling me into a year that's less pretty and more gritty.
A year of starting over.
A year of praying again.
A year of turning the other cheek.
A year of pushing past discomfort.
A year of taking the next right step.
A year of laughing in the face of fear.
A year of tearing down in order to rebuild.
A year of staying when all I want to do is run.
A year of proclaiming, "The pain I'm feeling can't compare to the joy that is coming!" (Romans 8:18)
For Year 26, my word was "Overflow."
I'm gonna be totally honest: I felt empty quite a bit last year. But, guess what? I lived in the overflow of God's goodness, His faithfulness, and His presence. He was not scarce in my life. Not. one. single. day.
I may not have achieved "Overflow," but I don't think I was meant to.
Year 26 taught me:
I will never be the fountain.
I will always be the vessel.
Every time I run into presence, He is faithful to fill me up to overflow again.
Just as Jesus was my OVERFLOW last year, I believe He will be my ENDURANCE this year.
Scripture talks a lot about endurance. Below are the scriptures I'm writing on the tables of my heart (and on sticky notes around my home) to help me ENDURE this year.
"And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart." -Galatians 6:9
I think this scripture gets taken out of context A LOT! People will say, "Don't grow weary!" as an admonishment, but they chop off the rest of the phrase. It says, "let us not grow weary WHILE DOING GOOD."
One of my favorite promises from God is found in Matthew 11:28, Come to me, all YOU WHO ARE WEARY and burdened, and I will give you rest."
Weariness is a guarantee in this life, but the antidote is rest in God's presence.
Personal observation: I only grow "weary while doing good" when I'm not resting properly. When I'm overworking and depending on my own strength. That is when the weariness comes.
Endurance will lead to harvest as long as I'm protecting the condition of my heart & ACTIVELY fighting weariness by leaning into God's rest.
"Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus." -Philippians 3:13-14
I will press forward by looking forward. It's difficult to move forward when you're craning your neck backwards.
If you have to press into something, it means there is resistance. I will embrace resistance this year and know that there is a prize ahead of me. The prize is a HIGH CALLING. It isn't supposed to be easy.
"Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,2 looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God." -Hebrews 12:1
Remember how I said I'm going to look forward? What exactly am I looking at? I'm looking at Jesus. His example is before my eyes.
Also: this scripture says to "lay aside every weight and sin which clings so closely." I need to be on high alert for feelings of heaviness. When I begin to feel heavy, there is probably a weight I need to lay down.
"And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; 4 and perseverance, character; and character, hope." Romans 5:3-4
Hope is the final outcome of enduring trials! How amazing is that?
This scripture says GLORY in tribulations. You know what doesn't mix well with glory? Shame! If I'm going to glory IN trials, I have to get the shame OUT of trials. There is NO SHAME in tests, trials, suffering, and struggles.
I'm already almost three months into this ENDURE year. And so far it hasn't been easy. Not one. single. day. But once again, God has not been scarce. He is my strength when I am weak. He has good things ahead of me.
There is a prize on the other side of the press.
God will do what He promised. He is forever faithful to do what He promised.
So, I have just one promise to make to you, dear reader: I WILL ENDURE.
Also, here's a photo of me & sunflowers to remind you that summer will come again!
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