Stand Firm | Perseverance in the Lord

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Happy Monday my friends!

This weekend was the four year anniversary of one of the most difficult circumstances my husband and I have encountered in our married life. I was reflecting on God’s goodness through such a stressful event and it made me realize how my perspective has changed on it these last four years. So for today’s Monday Musings of Grace I want to encourage you to stand firm in the Lord and to persevere in your trials and share a bit about our struggle and how God blessed us through it.

So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. – Isaiah 41:10

My Story

Four years ago my husband and I had put the kids down for the night and were ready for bed ourselves when God made it apparent that something wasn’t right. We had no warning signs of what was to come except the sound of clanging. You see, earlier that fall we had installed a high efficiency wood burning fireplace. We had a roaring fire going for several days as the weather changed and got colder. But that night, the mistakes that were made by the installation crew finally caught up to us and started our house fire.

God protected our family that night in so many ways. The fire was contained in the attic so our smoke alarms never went off. Had He not woken me our family most likely would have perished without ever knowing there was a problem. Long story short, God protected our family, but our home was a different story. Smoke and water damage required the house to be completely stripped down and remodeled from the bottom up.

God’s Blessing

As I reflect back on the stresses of that trial I am humbled by how God worked in every situation. We were blessed in so many ways; to name a few:

1. Complete safety for our family
2. Strength to endure the legal battles with insurance and the company who installed our fireplace
3. A home to stay in for the 6 months we were displaced from our house
4. Wisdom for how to help our then three year old who was dealing with severe anxiety from the fire
5. Family and friends who supported us in so many ways
6. Gracious employers who gave us the time off we needed to handle everything
7. Knowledge for how to walk through the grueling insurance process
8. Funds to replace everything that was lost to the fire

The Forest for the Trees

But let me tell you friends, while I knew God was taking care of us in the midst of our trial, it has taken me years to fully see the blessings that came from it. You know that saying, “You can’t see the forest for the trees”? Well, I believe that is true for most people struggling through a trial or a challenge. We are often so caught up in the hurt, tragedy, stress, confusion, frustration or desperation that challenges can bring that we can’t see the blessings happening around us. Often it takes us a long time to be able to look back and appreciate God’s provision for us.

Stand Firm

So my encouragement to you today is to stand firm in the Lord’s strength. Not your own. Stand firm in His promise to be your refuge. Stand firm in the knowledge that He is with you and says to you, “Do not be afraid.” Stand firm knowing that He will never leave you or forsake you. Most importantly, stand firm in your faith and take a moment to intentionally try to see God’s blessing in the midst of your struggle.

Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be men of courage; be strong. – 1 Corinthians 16:13

We all have our struggles. Some are big. Some are small. Some seem to be never ending. But stand firm with the Lord and you will have all the strength you need to persevere and keep moving forward. After all, mountains have been known to move.

 

 

 

{When I am afraid, I will trust in you. In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I will not be afraid. What can mortal man do to me?- Psalm 56:3-4 }

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