The Grace to Persevere, Even When it Hurts
I remember the moment when I read 2 Corinthians 12:8-9 and knew that I would not be saved from one of the darkest periods I have ever endured as a parent. In that scripture I was given the promise, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.“ My son, my baby boy, was spiraling out of control and the prayers for God to intervene and stop him from going down the path he was headed would not be answered. There would not be the miraculous revelation of my son’s choices at Youth Service in order for him to receive prayer and then chose to turn from them. Our financial situation would not change to have the means to put him in the type of program we thought he needed.
It was in that moment that I also knew the same God who chose to not intervene at the beginning of a season that would test every part of my being from the stability of my marriage to my own healing from the bondages I used to use to self-medicate my pain was also the same God who showed me time after time that He was faithful to heal my heart; faithful to restore a marriage that should not have survived the early years due to my own mental instability; faithful to open door after door of opportunity for me to grow in ways I never imagined after He showed me that He created and wired me for a purpose; faithful to go beyond anything I could have ever hoped for or imagined time after time in my life.
It was in that moment that I knew my declaration would determine my personal journey in the season that would cost our family more than we ever imagined financially and the loss of close relationships still not restored several years on the other side.
It was in that moment that I was freely given the choice to trust Him and His promise of grace or to not see the opportunity of the trust He was providing to me with a testimony that would minister to more people than I could have ever imagined on the other side.
Isaiah 40:28-31 Talks about God’s ability to endure through ever obstacle and in turn is our source of strength when we become weak or tired. “28… He never grows weak or weary. No one can measure the depths of his understanding. 29 He gives power to the weak and strength to the powerless. 30 Even youths will become weak and tired, and young men will fall in exhaustion. 31 But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint.” We are told that there WILL be times when life is overwhelming and we WILL get tired and we may even fall in exhaustion. Then we are promised that we WILL find new strength. The secret to getting to the NEW comes through the decision to trust Him.
The decision to persevere in the hard times, in the moments of disappointment when things did not go as planned; or when you may find yourself in the middle of the most painful season of your life is not based upon looking at your ability. It all falls back on the decision to trust a loving God who is waiting to pour out His grace for you to get to the other side of what you are going through, so that you are able to find a NEW level of strength that you would not have known you had any other way, so that the person you share the testimony with will know they can get to the other side, as well.
Tina Willis has been married to her best friend and love of her life for over 17 years. She is a mother to 3 very diverse individuals who Tina credits with God using to save her life and stretch her into the person she has become today. She recently graduated to grandmother status and falls more in love with her granddaughter every day. Tina's ultimate goal is to enjoy life with the people she loves and hopes her legacy will be a reflection of her passion to better the world around her and those in it.