Five Day Patience Devotional Day 2:Enduring Hardship
Five Day Focus: Patience
Day 2: Enduring Hardship
Scripture:
1 Peter 2:19-23
For this is a gracious thing, when, mindful of God, one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly. For what credit is it if, when you sin and are beaten for it, you endure? But if when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God. For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps. He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly.
James 1:2-8
2 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. 4 But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. 5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. 6 But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. 7 For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; 8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.
Habakkuk 2:3
For still the vision awaits its appointed time; it hastens to the end—it will not lie. If it seems slow, wait for it; it will surely come; it will not delay.
Hebrews 6:11-12
11 And we desire that each one of you show the same diligence to the full assurance of hope until the end, 12 that you do not become sluggish, but imitate those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.
Romans 5:3-4
More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope,
1 Corinthians 13:7
Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
Hebrews 10:36
For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God you may receive what is promised.
James 1:12
Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.
2 Corinthians 12:9-10
But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
Revelation 2:3
I know you are enduring patiently and bearing up for my name's sake, and you have not grown weary.
Matthew 11:28
Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
Philippians 4:13
I can do all things through him who strengthens me.
Devotional:
Parenting. It is truly not for the faint in heart. I can certainly relate to this. In my twenties, I was terrified to be a mom. I saw women I loved struggling to adjust to motherhood. The constancy, full responsibility, total dependency, and all-consuming nature of parenting felt overwhelming, and to be honest I didn’t think I would do a good job. I didn’t want a child to depend on me and be let down by my imperfections.
When I returned to the Lord in my late twenties, one of the first things I did was answer God’s call to attend ministry school. My sweet grandmother had seen God’s call on my life to be a worship leader, but I was resistant to seeing or hearing that call. However, I was so deeply moved by God’s great deliverance of my dependence on marijuana and alcohol that I made a solemn declaration that I would obey whatever He told me to do. I moved to the Midwest (As a self professing California girl, so NOT MY PLAN!) and within a few years was responsible for leading worship to toddlers. Wow. This was NOT what I saw myself doing. I certainly didn’t WANT to be a children’s worship leader! I wanted to be a singer songwriter. Gently, though, God began to soften my heart and put a passion in me to have children of my own. I remember writing about how my most profound role in life was being Miss Olivia to a group of 3-5 year old children. I had to do crowd control at our large church to keep from getting knocked over when I came in. Little arms regularly clamped themselves to my legs and hips. My entire perspective began to change. God allowed me to lead little children to Him, and to teach them how to truly worship. And yet, God waited seven years to introduce me to the man with whom I would share parenting.
Waiting to be a parent felt like a wilderness for me. I dreamed, hoped and expected amazing things.
Entering into parenting did not produce exactly the amazing results I had dreamed up. The unconditional reciprocal love you hear about was something I did not receive right away. I spent the first two full years of my son’s life waiting for my first hug. I poured in fiercely and received nothing. I never heard the word “mama” or had my child run to me or reach for me. I had basically given up on receiving any personal joy from mothering, and resolved to walk the road without giving up though my heart was breaking daily. When my daughter came, the pendulum swung far to the other side. For her first two years, I was the IT girl and couldn’t get more than a few feet away from her without her anxiety and fear overtaking her. It was a time of healing for me, however, because she truly did and does love me more than any other person in her world. Her need and desire for affection and ability to show it filled a gap by God’s grace that was a beautiful surprise (and at times was and is exhausting!).
It can be so tempting to feel like a victim, to complain that parenting isn’t what I anticipated. It isn’t. No doubt about that. However, God gently reminds me regularly that His grace is sufficient. I am not able to do this without Him. My dependency is on Him.
Another thought to ponder when considering the hardship of parenting a child that doesn’t fit the mold is to recognize that we truly are ministers of God’s grace to these children. It can be so hard to hear this, but we didn’t become parents to receive blessings or be fulfilled. If we did, we are setting ourselves up for disappointment. While we may or may not have been raised with the same mindset, we are called to be servants and pour our lives out for these children.
Endurance is central and imperative. We are in need of it, and it comes from allowing God to work in us through these challenges. We will surely receive blessings along the way; however, ultimately the reward is to see our children shaped, molded and transformed into the image of God through the ministry they receive in our homes.
Prayer:
Father, I receive Your Word for me today. Impart a steady attitude of endurance. I desire to walk this road with the goal in mind of raising an amazing man or woman of God. This is Your divine task for me. I depend on You. Forgive me for complaining about it, and for any selfish motives I had or have about parenting.
I desire to honor You as a parent. Teach me to endure patiently. Help me to truly count it joy. Bring others alongside me to walk this with who understand and encourage me. Help me not to isolate or hide in my challenges.
Intercession:
Take time to pray over the needs in your prayer journal for each child (I also add my husband and myself). Note praise reports. Take time to thank God. Ask Him to give you scriptures that apply, and fill your mind with the truth of God’s Word for your circumstances.
Lord, I lay these needs and my own heart at Your throne today. Go before my family.
In Jesus' Name I pray, amen.
Day 2: Enduring Hardship
Scripture:
1 Peter 2:19-23
For this is a gracious thing, when, mindful of God, one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly. For what credit is it if, when you sin and are beaten for it, you endure? But if when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God. For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps. He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly.
James 1:2-8
2 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. 4 But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. 5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. 6 But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. 7 For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; 8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.
Habakkuk 2:3
For still the vision awaits its appointed time; it hastens to the end—it will not lie. If it seems slow, wait for it; it will surely come; it will not delay.
Hebrews 6:11-12
11 And we desire that each one of you show the same diligence to the full assurance of hope until the end, 12 that you do not become sluggish, but imitate those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.
Romans 5:3-4
More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope,
1 Corinthians 13:7
Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
Hebrews 10:36
For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God you may receive what is promised.
James 1:12
Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.
2 Corinthians 12:9-10
But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
Revelation 2:3
I know you are enduring patiently and bearing up for my name's sake, and you have not grown weary.
Matthew 11:28
Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
Philippians 4:13
I can do all things through him who strengthens me.
Devotional:
Parenting. It is truly not for the faint in heart. I can certainly relate to this. In my twenties, I was terrified to be a mom. I saw women I loved struggling to adjust to motherhood. The constancy, full responsibility, total dependency, and all-consuming nature of parenting felt overwhelming, and to be honest I didn’t think I would do a good job. I didn’t want a child to depend on me and be let down by my imperfections.
When I returned to the Lord in my late twenties, one of the first things I did was answer God’s call to attend ministry school. My sweet grandmother had seen God’s call on my life to be a worship leader, but I was resistant to seeing or hearing that call. However, I was so deeply moved by God’s great deliverance of my dependence on marijuana and alcohol that I made a solemn declaration that I would obey whatever He told me to do. I moved to the Midwest (As a self professing California girl, so NOT MY PLAN!) and within a few years was responsible for leading worship to toddlers. Wow. This was NOT what I saw myself doing. I certainly didn’t WANT to be a children’s worship leader! I wanted to be a singer songwriter. Gently, though, God began to soften my heart and put a passion in me to have children of my own. I remember writing about how my most profound role in life was being Miss Olivia to a group of 3-5 year old children. I had to do crowd control at our large church to keep from getting knocked over when I came in. Little arms regularly clamped themselves to my legs and hips. My entire perspective began to change. God allowed me to lead little children to Him, and to teach them how to truly worship. And yet, God waited seven years to introduce me to the man with whom I would share parenting.
Waiting to be a parent felt like a wilderness for me. I dreamed, hoped and expected amazing things.
Entering into parenting did not produce exactly the amazing results I had dreamed up. The unconditional reciprocal love you hear about was something I did not receive right away. I spent the first two full years of my son’s life waiting for my first hug. I poured in fiercely and received nothing. I never heard the word “mama” or had my child run to me or reach for me. I had basically given up on receiving any personal joy from mothering, and resolved to walk the road without giving up though my heart was breaking daily. When my daughter came, the pendulum swung far to the other side. For her first two years, I was the IT girl and couldn’t get more than a few feet away from her without her anxiety and fear overtaking her. It was a time of healing for me, however, because she truly did and does love me more than any other person in her world. Her need and desire for affection and ability to show it filled a gap by God’s grace that was a beautiful surprise (and at times was and is exhausting!).
It can be so tempting to feel like a victim, to complain that parenting isn’t what I anticipated. It isn’t. No doubt about that. However, God gently reminds me regularly that His grace is sufficient. I am not able to do this without Him. My dependency is on Him.
Another thought to ponder when considering the hardship of parenting a child that doesn’t fit the mold is to recognize that we truly are ministers of God’s grace to these children. It can be so hard to hear this, but we didn’t become parents to receive blessings or be fulfilled. If we did, we are setting ourselves up for disappointment. While we may or may not have been raised with the same mindset, we are called to be servants and pour our lives out for these children.
Endurance is central and imperative. We are in need of it, and it comes from allowing God to work in us through these challenges. We will surely receive blessings along the way; however, ultimately the reward is to see our children shaped, molded and transformed into the image of God through the ministry they receive in our homes.
Prayer:
Father, I receive Your Word for me today. Impart a steady attitude of endurance. I desire to walk this road with the goal in mind of raising an amazing man or woman of God. This is Your divine task for me. I depend on You. Forgive me for complaining about it, and for any selfish motives I had or have about parenting.
I desire to honor You as a parent. Teach me to endure patiently. Help me to truly count it joy. Bring others alongside me to walk this with who understand and encourage me. Help me not to isolate or hide in my challenges.
Intercession:
Take time to pray over the needs in your prayer journal for each child (I also add my husband and myself). Note praise reports. Take time to thank God. Ask Him to give you scriptures that apply, and fill your mind with the truth of God’s Word for your circumstances.
Lord, I lay these needs and my own heart at Your throne today. Go before my family.
In Jesus' Name I pray, amen.
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