The word that God laid on my heart today is perseverance. In the dictionary it tells us that it is “the steady persistence in a course of action, especially in spite of difficulties, obstacles, or discouragement.” I was reminded today as I journaled that adversity has taught me a lot about persevering in my faith and not giving up or losing hope. I would love to share about a time in my life when I needed to persevere. I hope it encourages you when you are facing a trial and need to keep on going by faith.
Back in 2007 we moved our family to the Philippines. It was a big step of faith for our whole family to take. Not long after we arrived we faced some challenges that lead me to struggle greatly with fear and anxiety. We lived off of a road that the locals called the highway of death. Buses would speed their way down the road and get themselves in tragic accidents. A second thing that scared me was a bomb that had gone off 5 minutes away from where we lived. A terrorist group succeeded in taking out a government official. The sound of it shook our home.
Those experiences left me feeling very uneasy and fearful about our safety. As time passed I began to struggle with anxiety. I would have anxiety attacks that would make it hard for me to breathe. I also began to battle acid reflux that couldn’t be controlled by medicine. For 14 months I went on a downward spiral. It wasn’t until I went to see a dr that things began to get better. After sharing how I was feeling with my Dr. he put me in the hospital for a week. There I met with a great psychiatrist that began to put me on the right track. There were many times through these trials that I could have given up or quit but instead I kept a steady determination and preserving spirit.
Today think about how you have persevered through trials. Praise God for his hand in your life and for giving you victory in the mist of some dark and trying places. Share your story of perseverance with a friend and see how it can spur them on in their faith journey.
Walking In The Light 