Happy Sabbath friends! There are two reactions that come to mind when I think of pain. The first reaction is we allow the pain to consume us, and we break down. The other reaction is we feel the pain, but use the pain as motivation for growth. Today we are going to delve into perseverance, and what that can look like when we are faced with trials, tribulations, pain, etc. God never promised that this life would be easy, but He did promise that He would give us the strength to persevere if we just put our complete trust in Him.

“I can do all this through him who gives me strength.”
Philippians 4:13 NIV

Throughout my life, I have been faced with many situations that in the moment, I didn’t think I would make it through. I am writing to you all today to confidently state that I am still standing, and because of Jesus, He has made me stronger from the trials and tribulations I have faced. It’s funny to look back because I recall these trials and tribulations, and I remember thinking when it was taking place, “I am never going to be okay”, or “there is no way out of this mess”, etc., and I state that it’s funny because I am now out of that mess, and I am okay.

Whenever we are faced with trials, tribulations, and/or hardships in our life, it is easy for us to see no way out, but God has other plans. The difference between us and our Heavenly Father is that He already has our story written from start to finish. He already knows how everything will play out for us. That is why it is stated in the Word of God to not worry about tomorrow. We don’t have to worry because God already has it all taken care of. We just need to truly believe that, and put our complete trust in Him.

“Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”
Matthew 6:34 NIV

I am going to share a story about my week to give an example, as this week I was insanely stressed and overwhelmed with work. Usually work is manageable, but this week it was out of control with me being out of office for two days. I remember at the beginning of this week, I wanted to break down and cry because I could not see a light at the end of the tunnel. Task after task was hitting me left and right, and it was becoming too much to bear. My mind started to tell me I wasn’t capable of doing the job that I was given. I did not let the mind win, as I gave my burdens to God instead. I surrendered my work to Him, and asked Him to give me the perseverance to make it through. I am writing to you today, as it is now the end of the week, and I can confidently state that because of God’s strength, I made it through. Looking back at the beginning of this week, it almost makes me feel silly for thinking the way I was thinking because of how quickly I got out of the hardship, but I truly believe it was because of Jesus’ strength and guidance that I was able to persevere and get caught up with all my work. I made it out of the hardship because of the strength and perseverance that God blessed me with, but it also helped me grow as a person, and an employee. This week I was able to learn how to work under immense pressure, and strengthen my time management skills so I was able to get all my work done in an effective and efficient manner. This example may not be as deep as some other trials, tribulations, and/or hardships that you may face, but it is as equally as applicable. No matter what trial, or hardship you may face, our God is bigger. He already has it all written out, and with Him, there will always be victory.

“But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.”
1 Corinthians 15:57-58 NIV

There are many different characters in the Word of God who faced trials, tribulations, hardships, pain, etc., and they made it through and ended up being stronger and wiser than they were before, and this was all because of our Heavenly Father being with each of them. Examples of these characters are; Job, Joseph, Moses, David, Esther, Daniel, Paul, and much more. Job lost everything, but because he stayed true to our Lord Jesus, he was rewarded with twice as much as he had before. Joseph was betrayed by his own family and was sold to slavery, yet the Lord was with him, and he became second-in-command in Egypt. Moses faced rejection by the Israelites and many others, yet the Lord was with Him, and he successfully led the Israelites out of Egypt. David experienced threats, betrayal, and went through his own personal struggles, yet the Lord was with him, and he became king. Esther risked her life, yet the Lord was with her, and gave her and her people safety. Daniel was persecuted and thrown in the lion’s den, but because he stayed true to the Lord every step of the way, he received God’s protection. Lastly, Paul faced countless oppositions throughout his life, yet the Lord did not give up on him, and was with him, which led to his and the church’s growth.

“Though he slay me, yet will I hope in him; I will surely defend my ways to his face.”
Job 13:15 NIV

“You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.”
Genesis 50:20 NIV

“By faith he left Egypt, not fearing the king’s anger; he persevered because he saw him who is invisible.”
Hebrews 11:27 NIV

“The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.”
Psalms 23:1 NIV

“For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?””
Esther 4:14 NIV

“But Daniel resolved not to defile himself with the royal food and wine, and he asked the chief official for permission not to defile himself this way.”
Daniel 1:8 NIV

“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.”
2 Timothy 4:7 NIV

The Word of God shows us that we are not alone. Numerous characters in the Word of God were faced with trials, tribulations, hardships, pain, etc., but the commonality amongst them all is that they came out of it stronger, more successful, wiser, and closer to Jesus than ever before. I am sure during their hardships they never anticipated any of the things we know they obtain later in their stories, yet they never let the pain consume them. They continued to walk the narrow way with Jesus, and they put their complete trust in Him to carry them out of the storm they were facing. Shouldn’t we do the same? Instead of allowing the pain to consume you, use it as an opportunity for growth. When you are faced with trials, tribulations, hardships, pain, etc., instead of worrying, turn your face upon our Heavenly Father who is bigger than whatever you may be facing, and watch how He completely turns your life around for the better.

Pain is temporary. Jesus is forever.

Feel the pain, but don’t allow it to consume you. Instead, allow our Heavenly Father to take full control, and fill you with His abundant blessings and love. Just like the many characters in the Word of God, you will make it through, and you will be so much stronger, wiser, and closer to our Heavenly Father, if you just give your pain over to Him.

“Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”
James 1:2-4 NIV

Amen.

***

Kelleher, R. R. (2024, September 16). #604: Perseverance in action: 7 biblical heroes who overcame adversity. RonKelleher. https://ronkelleher.com/604-perseverance-in-action-7-biblical-heroes-who-overcame-adversity/#:~:text=The%20stories%20of%20Job%2C%20Joseph,victorious%20by%20trusting%20in%20God.