But you don’t know what you don’t know
Someday I’ll be living in a big old city
And all you’re ever going to be is mean
Someday I’ll be big enough so you can’t hit me
And all you’re ever going to be is mean
Mean, Taylor Swift
As he picked up his phone, I instinctively knew who was on the opposite end. My spirit was tested immediately. It is in these moments of unfavorable conditions that surely test character.
In The Purpose-Driven Life, Rick Warren writes:
God uses the opposite situation of each fruit to allow us a choice. You can’t claim to be good if you’ve never been tempted to be bad. You can’t claim to be faithful if you’ve never had the opportunity to be unfaithful. Integrity is built by defeating the temptation to be dishonest; humility grows when we refuse to be prideful; and endurance develops every time you reject the temptation to give up. Every time you defeat a temptation, you become more like Jesus.
Endurance is a long word with a heavy weight. Grace and patience are also heavy. Lord, give me the strength to carry the weight. Let me wear forgiveness and humility on my heart, despite—in spite of—no, for them. Let me not be self-righteous.
Hebrews 12:14
Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord.
Romans 12:18
If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.
Philippians 2:3
Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves…
Luke 6:27-31
But to you who are listening I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. If someone slaps you on one cheek, turn to them the other also. If someone takes your coat, do not withhold your shirt from them. Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back. Do to others as you would have them do to you.
Hebrews 10:36
You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised.
James 1:12-18
Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him. When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death. Don’t be deceived, my dear brothers and sisters. Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created.
Dear God, in my broken heart, let me persevere. Let me be filled with You, so that I may be a kind of firstfruits to others in his life. Let me feel hope.
