One of my favorite biblical quotes is written by James, the half-brother of Jesus.
James 1:2-4 "Consider it a great joy, my brothers, whenever you experience various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. But endurance must do its complete work, so that you may be mature and complete, lacking nothing."
It's completely backwards in culture to be joyful in times of hard lessons and life challenges but this passage really speaks to those who are enduring because of their faith. Faith has been a hard thing to grasp for me and although I'd say that I live my life by faith, we all can be discouraged and we all fall short of perfection. But enduring through the various trials is what creates in us a better person, character and heart and we must wait patiently for that endurance to mature into the person we're supposed to be.
By Hebrews 11, faith is the reality of what is hoped for and the proof of what is not seen. In my life, my faith lies in the reality that I'm uniquely endowed with my gifts, skills and passions in order to achieve what God intends for me to achieve. But my achievements in that same reality do not create an identity within me. Although I may organize, write, or plan, I am not defined as an Organizer, Writer or Planner. I am still defined outwardly as a Christian and I hope that in my practices, the truth of that is demonstrated through my actions. I have realized that if my life is lived in the pursuant of Christ and in spreading the good news of His life, my identity does not exist outside of that purpose and pride should be non-existant.
I write all this because the current trials I'm experiencing are truly testing my faith, building my endurance and helping me understand my identity. Even in the writing of my resume, I find explanations restrictive. But just as my resume explains what I can do, it can't explain who I am. Who I am can only be understood by spending time near me. This is especially true of Jesus but in a different sense. By spending time reading His words and what people spoke of Him, we experience a Resume of infinite proportions. We walk into the presence of a man who loved easier and longer than any could have loved. He gave grace to people who didn't deserve it and skillfully humbled those who boasted with their empty resumes. He did all this until He had accomplished what was necessary; dying in place of us.
To those of you who are experiencing a chapter in your life that is similar to mine, I encourage you to continue on fighting the fight knowing that this is a test of our faith and it is a joy to know that these tests are what make us stronger. Without trials, we do not grow. The stronger the trial that we endure, the stronger the results. We must learn, teach and endure until what we are sent here to accomplish is finished. Until then, we surely know that there is more in store for us and we must seek His will for our lives.
Psalms 146
"Hallelujah!
My soul, praise the Lord.
I will praise the Lord all my life;
I will sing to my God as long as I live.
Do not trust in nobles,
in man, who cannot save.
When his breath leaves him,
he returns to the ground;
on that day his plans die.
Happy is the one whose help is the God of Jacob,
whose hope is in the Lord his God,
the Maker of heaven and earth,
the sea and everything in them,
He remains faithful forever,
executing justice for the exploited
and giving food to the hungry.
The Lord frees prisoners.
The Lord opens the eyes of the blind.
The Lord raised up those who are oppressed.
The Lord loves the righteous.
The Lord protects foreigners
and helps the fatherless and the widow,
but He frustrates the ways of the wicked.
The Lord reigns forever;
Zion, your God, reigns for all generations.
Hallelujah!"
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