Persistence?

03.12.21—Persistence!--Genesis 32:26

My friend, may I ask you a question? Is sticking it out, no matter how difficult or unpleasant, probably the hardest part of life, because falling back can be so much easier?

My friend, life’s a story, welcome to This Passing Day.

I’m M. Clifford Brunner

There’s a fine line between being persistent and being stubborn. An old friend of mine used to say that it takes a wise man to get the both of them to shake hands. On the one hand, there always seems to come a time when going back to the same behavior, time and time again, can become foolish. On the other, losing patience with something just because it doesn’t succeed on our timetable can be just a foolish. I’m always reminded of that old Kenny Rogers song, “You got to know when to hold ‘em, know when to fold ‘em, Know when to walk away and know when to run.” For a Christian, it really is about knowing when to stick it out and when to pull back.

Sticking it out, however, is probably the hardest part because falling back can be so much easier.

Here’s a story: A young man who had had considerable trouble finding success in life began to despair. He had moved from job to job and was never able to find employment that would last. Now he stood in an unemployment line with dozens of others seeking a job. Finally, his turn to speak to a job coach, an elderly lady, came and he quickly began to pour out his soul. He told her that he was a Christian but that he had grown weary in the fight, and wondered whether he ought to give up the struggle. “I am beaten every time,” he said dolefully. “Perhaps God just wants me to throw in the towel.” “Did you ever notice,” she replied, smiling into the troubled face before her, “that when the Lord told the discouraged fishermen to cast their nets again, it was right in the same old spot where they had been fishing all night and had caught nothing?” (Source Unknown.)

Because God encourages persistence under all circumstances, even when it seems impossible, it’s not because He enjoys seeing us squirm and it certainly isn’t because He prefers that we fail. God’s plan is always built upon success because all of His plans are perfection. That’s not to say that part of that plan might consist of failing. More often than not it does. Persistence, however, is the character trait that allows us to see beyond the failure long enough to spy the goal. When it comes to the Christian life, sometimes fishing in the same spot is exactly what God wants us to do.

We pray. Heavenly Father. You encourage persistence under all circumstances, even when it seems impossible. We know that it’s not because You enjoy seeing us squirm, and certainly isn’t becauseYou prefer we fail. We know Your plan is always built upon success, because all of Your plans are perfect. Forgive us Lord when we don’t see that part of that plan might consist in failing. More often than not it does. Give us persistence, Lord, to allow us to see beyond the failure long enough to spy the goal. When it comes to this Christian life, sometimes fishing in the same spot is exactly what You want us to do. We pray this in Jesus name. Amen!

Therefore my friend, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry for itself; each day has enough trouble of its own. (Matt 6:34) This Passing Day. May this passing day honor our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and be a blessing to you and everyone you meet. Find a stranger and say hello. Don't let another day pass without your day blessing someone else.

If you have a special prayer request, please send your request to "This Passing Day!"

<thispassingday@gmail.com> From Beech Springs, God bless you for Jesus sake.

Persistence?

03.12.21—Persistence!--Genesis 32:26

My friend, may I ask you a question? Is sticking it out, no matter how difficult or unpleasant, probably the hardest part of life, because falling back can be so much easier?

My friend, life’s a story, welcome to This Passing Day.

I’m M. Clifford Brunner

There’s a fine line between being persistent and being stubborn. An old friend of mine used to say that it takes a wise man to get the both of them to shake hands. On the one hand, there always seems to come a time when going back to the same behavior, time and time again, can become foolish. On the other, losing patience with something just because it doesn’t succeed on our timetable can be just a foolish. I’m always reminded of that old Kenny Rogers song, “You got to know when to hold ‘em, know when to fold ‘em, Know when to walk away and know when to run.” For a Christian, it really is about knowing when to stick it out and when to pull back.

Sticking it out, however, is probably the hardest part because falling back can be so much easier.

Here’s a story: A young man who had had considerable trouble finding success in life began to despair. He had moved from job to job and was never able to find employment that would last. Now he stood in an unemployment line with dozens of others seeking a job. Finally, his turn to speak to a job coach, an elderly lady, came and he quickly began to pour out his soul. He told her that he was a Christian but that he had grown weary in the fight, and wondered whether he ought to give up the struggle. “I am beaten every time,” he said dolefully. “Perhaps God just wants me to throw in the towel.” “Did you ever notice,” she replied, smiling into the troubled face before her, “that when the Lord told the discouraged fishermen to cast their nets again, it was right in the same old spot where they had been fishing all night and had caught nothing?” (Source Unknown.)

Because God encourages persistence under all circumstances, even when it seems impossible, it’s not because He enjoys seeing us squirm and it certainly isn’t because He prefers that we fail. God’s plan is always built upon success because all of His plans are perfection. That’s not to say that part of that plan might consist of failing. More often than not it does. Persistence, however, is the character trait that allows us to see beyond the failure long enough to spy the goal. When it comes to the Christian life, sometimes fishing in the same spot is exactly what God wants us to do.

We pray. Heavenly Father. You encourage persistence under all circumstances, even when it seems impossible. We know that it’s not because You enjoy seeing us squirm, and certainly isn’t becauseYou prefer we fail. We know Your plan is always built upon success, because all of Your plans are perfect. Forgive us Lord when we don’t see that part of that plan might consist in failing. More often than not it does. Give us persistence, Lord, to allow us to see beyond the failure long enough to spy the goal. When it comes to this Christian life, sometimes fishing in the same spot is exactly what You want us to do. We pray this in Jesus name. Amen!

Therefore my friend, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry for itself; each day has enough trouble of its own. (Matt 6:34) This Passing Day. May this passing day honor our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and be a blessing to you and everyone you meet. Find a stranger and say hello. Don't let another day pass without your day blessing someone else.

If you have a special prayer request, please send your request to "This Passing Day!"

<thispassingday@gmail.com> From Beech Springs, God bless you for Jesus sake.