Endurance is not just the ability to bear a hard thing; it is the ability to turn it into glory.1 Corinthians 4:12 "and we labor, working with our own hands. Being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we endure it."
You have probably discovered during this past year that periods of pain or difficulty are the hardest times to remember the basic truths of God's Word.Ironically those moments demand the light of His truth the most. While you can never anticipate all of the specific needs that will arise, you can make it a habit to view every situation through the filter of God's perspective.
Ask the Lord to help you focus on Him instead of the circumstance. Hurting does not mean that God does not care about you. You must make the commitment to cling to the truth of Romans 8:28 and similar promises. If you believe that He will bring good out of the situation somehow, then pessimistic thinking finds no permanent home in your heart. Over time, your emotions gradually align with the truth.
Part of Paul's joy resulted from his discovery of what God was doing "Behind the Scenes". What Paul thought was a slow time of limited contact turned out to be God's way of evangelizing one of the most impenetrable sectors of Roman society, the Praetorian guards. God put Paul in a position that he never could have achieved on his own.
Always remember that the Lord will give you His perspective if you ask Him to. You never have to give in to false friends of discouragement, worry or self-sufficiency. (C. Stanley)
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