Enduring Despair

I picked a word for this year and Endurance is what came to mind. This has been a word that has always had great meaning to me. I can remember in my childhood room this verse being taped to my mirror “I will press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 3:14) In order to press forward that requires endurance. There are always going to be many obstacles in the way of our path, but we have to ask ourselves if we will keep going. If I am being honest, a couple weeks ago I wanted to completely give up on a situation that feels never ending. Well truthfully, it’s something that weighs me down all the time. I threw my hands up to God and said “I don’t know what you want us to do and I just don’t understand why you have made it so hard!!!” I was mad, sad, angry, exhausted, hurt you name it. This particular situation is hard to understand when it involves your child and there is nothing you can do to make the situation better.

So what do we do when we can’t change a situation we so desperately want to change? We are in this series at our church called God Shapes to Bless. At first, I thought God is Shaping us to bless us. But no, that is my selfish nature interpreting that incorrectly. What this means is that God is shaping us to bless others. He is constantly changing us, molding us, breaking us, so that we can be a blessing to those around us. I can’t say I am over thanking him everyday for these challenges. No, some days I am just like okay God I am done being shaped thank you, can we move on now? The process of being shaped isn’t that fun, but it is biblical. The verse I think of is Isaiah 64:8 “Yet, you, Lord, are our Father. We are the clay, you are the potter; we are all the work of your hand.”

God knows what he is doing as he forms you and refines you. Maybe you feel you have been that clay for multiple years, but what I am learning is that it’s because of His incredible love for you. It’s also recognizing God’s authority to shape us inwardly. We are being shaped to be a vessel fit for His use. He doesn’t mold us without a purpose and is never finished with us on this side of heaven. He loves you that much to make sure your focus is solely on Him so that others see Jesus In you. So as I reflect on being the clay to the most masterful Potter, I can endure.

💗 Heather