Living In and With Challenging Days
Perhaps you’ve been through some challenges lately. We tend to hate challenges but they allow us to see what we believe in and who we believe.
As last year ended and 2023 began I found a great desire to return to what I know and have believed in. I’m deeply thankful Jesus is where I can go to re-construct what is real and true for me. The world can easily de-construct what we “know” to be true … it is a subtle slow process.
Here’s how I do this re-construction: I re-visit and immerse myself in the truths that constructed my faith originally at 15 when I invited Jesus into my life. God’s truths in the Bible are living and active, able to work in us to construct or re-construct a living daily faith (see Hebrews 4:12).
In my 2023 journey, Romans 5:1-5 has, again, helped in re-constructing my faith, creating renewed solid ground for my daily living: “Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance, perseverance character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.” (Romans 5:1-5)
In reconstructing, I have looked closely at these truths:
1. I have been justified through my act of faith in Jesus and therefore have peace with God….this peace lets me live daily in grace that Jesus made possible.
2. Therefore, I live and rejoice in the hope of the glory of God that is real each day!
3. But, I can also rejoice in present challenges and sufferings because I know that SUFFERING produces PERSEVERANCE; perseverance produces CHARACTER; and character, HOPE.
4. This HOPE doesn’t disappoint, because God has poured out his love into my heart by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given me! This HOPE is readily available to me, daily, by the Holy Spirit’s presence in me.
These steps of re-construction have been life-giving in these first months of 2023. But I know I’m not done yet with the re-construction. My understanding is not yet as clear as I know it can be. It’s like a T.V. that has a less than clear picture that you can live with but you know it can be clearer. It’s like a house that is well constructed but some parts have grown worn, broken down because of continual use , such that renewal is clearly needed.
WHERE I AM PRESENTLY IN THE RE-CONSTRUCTION:
1. I read and re-read Romans 5:1-5 slowly, maybe 4 or 5 times, very slowly. Each time I invite Jesus to open my mind, heart, and soul to a new, present understanding for my life today! I study each key word to hear again the meaning of it in my life now!
2. I let Him lead me to apply new understanding where He knows I need it.
3. I offer up to Him specific areas of challenge and suffering, then ask Him to assist and guide me in persevering and changing me from within so my character may be shaped and my hope re-kindled. I sit still, inviting Him to be with me as I am with Him!
4. And, lastly, I wait on Him, inviting Him to help me take hold of this hope in Him that doesn’t disappoint because God is pouring out His love once again into my heart by the Holy Spirit whom He has given me.
This re-construction isn’t easy or quick, nor should we expect it to be. It’s the renewing of a heart that is weary, even sick at times. But here are words to encourage us in this spiritual re-construction from the life of Apostle Paul: “In Him and through faith in Him we may approach God with freedom and confidence…For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom his whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to KNOW this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God” Ephesians 3:12, 14-19.
The Renewing Life Center exists to assist you in your desire for recovery, wholeness and finding quality of life. Let us meet you where you are in this journey to go forward.
I also invite you to join me for a 2-week class at the Renewing Life Center, “Going Deeper With God by Responding to What Jesus Offers”, June 14th and 21st from 6:30-8:15. The cost is $25 per person. Register at www.renewinglife.net/spiritual-institute-classes.
Patricia Meye, M.Div., D.Min.