Day 11: The strength of perseverance.

Perseverance. Probably the word that has been the most challenging for me to reflect on. And if I’m honest, when I think of what perseverance means, strength is the last thing that comes to mind.

When I studied the meaning of perseverance in Hebrew, two words came up. Emmeno which means “to abide in” or “to persevere” & Sarah which means “to persist” or “wrestle with”.  

Although I have faced many hardships in my walk, only one trial is 2nd to none. It was when my husband almost passed away.  

During that season the Holy Spirit brought an understanding to me that shifted my perspective on hardships. It’s because it was during that time I learned that your faith is anchored more by your experience of God personally, not so much what you know about Him logically.

For example, we understand from His word that He is a healer, if it were not true, His word wouldn’t say it. However, His truth only becomes truly foundational when we have personally experienced His healing power. Like that song that says “I’ve seen you move, you’ve moved the mountains, & I know I will see you do it again.” That’s the faith that is anchored in who God is and is established by us witnessing Him do it.

During that time, it’s also where I learned that medicine, doctors & science only goes so far. Outside of their futile limits is where you reach the sovereignty of God. That’s also where I saw just how fine that line was between holding on to what I longed for & surrendering it. It was in that trial that I learned that our hardships are not what moves God, but our faith in Him.  

The word perseverance means “to abide in” or “wrestle with”. Overcoming has nothing to do with our capabilities or effort & everything to do with His power (which is made stronger in our weakness)

I remember talking to my brother-in-law Erik & telling him about everything after God had spared my husband’s life. He said to me, “praise God that His will aligned with what you prayed for”. I’m not sure if he even remembers saying that to me, but it was at that moment I realized that there was a difference between what His will was for me & what I wanted for me.

Did you know that “abide” means to “accept”? The moment you accept Him, His word, His promises & His will, you will persevere through any trial. Not because the outcome aligned with what you wanted, but because you know His will for you is to be spiritually mature & lack nothing.

To me that’s the strength part, to accept that even when you loose someone or something you still are not lacking anything.