Have you ever wanted to give up? I have. Have you ever wondered how you will make it through another day? Have you ever asked the question why me? Have you ever decided that the best course of action was to be steadfast in your resolve to continue despite your circumstances? I have. Let me tell you what God has taught me how steadfastness brings hope.
Several years after my wife committed suicide The Holy Spirit got my attention and showed me verse that I live by every day of my life. This verse gives me great hope, especially when things are not going the way I had planned. “Count it all joy, my brothers,[b] when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” James 1 2-4 (ESV) As I finally understood this passage, I could realize that God was using my trial in Laura’s suicide for my good. He was using it to make me better and more than better He was making perfect, complete and lacking in nothing. Though to this day I miss Laura and probably always will. I have hope for a better future one where I will truly be perfect, complete and lacking in nothing.
I have also found that there is a command that I be steadfast for the sake of others and for God. The Apostle Paul commands me to be steadfast in 1 Corinthians 15:58, “Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.” (ESV) You see I found that when I am steadfast as Paul commands, I can know for certain the God’s work will never be in vain. His work will always be completed.
So I find hope in being steadfast for these two reasons. The things I do for God will always have an impact even if I do not know what it is because my work for Him will never be in vain. Also, the things He does in me when I am steadfast is nothing short of an amazing miracle. If you need hope, then trust in God’s promises. Lean into Him and let Him do a great work in you so you can accomplish a great work for Him.
I pray that you trust in God’s promise to make you perfect, complete and lacking in nothing as you live every day of your life. In doing so you will find the only true source of hope. Remember though that all sin is forgivable except the sin of unbelieve in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ on the cross satisfied the penalty for my sins and yours as well. It satisfied all my sins from te past, in the present, and in the future. My penalty and yours were satisfied on the cross by the death of Jesus, God’s greatest act of love and wrath, who became sin for me and you. It was also God’s greatest act of faithfulness because “God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8 (ESV) Because wisdom shows us, we need to believe in Jesus. I hope that you join me in helping others to choose Jesus.
If you have not read my previous blogs, you can find them here. You can watch a book trailer about my book. You can find my book, Hope Amid Hopelessness: Our Abba Father Provides a Way Through Mental Illness here. eBook or Audiobook versions can be found at Westbow Press
