In the past several years, and especially this year I have been faced this extreme relationship situations. Ones that I never thought I would face. Ones that I didn't even know that I had the strength to face. Ones that have been full on drag outs. Ones that I know are impossible to change without God.
Sometimes the end result has been beautiful. Others I have not been so lucky to see such beauty in, but rather how incredibly dark this world truly is. And there are a few others that I have yet to see the final outcome, though I continue to have faith that God is working His hand in ways that I cannot even begin to understand or see at the moment.
Many of times, I have tried to handle each situation on my own terms, the way I felt was fit, with my own strength, and what I thought was wisdom. Except I quickly learned through God's incredible grace that I do not have the strength, wisdom, or understanding to handle any of these situations on my own...or anything really (but that is an entirely different subject there!)
Lately, I have tried to wash my hands of things and/or ignore them completely. I find that things never truly go away when you just turn your back on them. It is kind of like the questions, "if a tree falls in the forest, and no one is around to hear it, did it make a sound?" Well, of course it did. And just the same the situation is still there whether or not I try to acknowledge it. It is an extreme learning process.
As I was in service this morning using the same bible that I used when I was in high school, I stumbled across some notes written the margins of 1 Corinthians 13, dated October 12, 2001. Almost 7 years ago. And even though when I wrote those words, it was a different time, a different world, and a different situation (one of which seems silly and juvenile compared to all that I have faced now) it spoke wonders to my heart. The notes correspond to verse 7 which reads "Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance." (NLT) In bright red ink beside that verse I wrote, "If you love someone you will be loyal to him no matter what the cost. You will always believe in him, always expect the best of him, and always stand your ground in defending him." What an amazing verse! What amazing words to be reminded of. God is always intentional when we allow him to lead us and speak to us.
I truly believe that when we are involved in difficult situations, especially when it involves other people, we can become selfish. We worry about how it directly effects us. We question if it's worth the time. If it is worth the effort. Most of the time we bail out before we can ever see the results relying on others to do the work, or expecting for things to run their course and for a change to happen without any blood shed. But that is not what the scripture is teaching here, "Love NEVER gives up. " Though I believe that each persons situation is different and delicate in it's own way, we cannot rely on our own human emotions and strength to decide whether you stick it out or not. We must always fully rely on Christ alone. He never wants us to act alone. That is how love never gives up. That is how love never loses faith. That is how love endures through every circumstance! Because of Christ's love for us.
We live in a society where we expect instant gratification. That once we do what we think our part is, that the outcome should follow immediately. That is not always the case. That is the minority. I am tired of seeing people drop commitments because it is no longer convenient to them. It is no longer fun. It is no longer easy. It makes me question their initial commitment in the first place. Why were you doing it? Who were you doing it for?
It is easy to give up when we believe that we have put in the amount of effort a situation deserves, but the question is about the situation itself it is about the person. Do you love and care enough about this person to be there? Where is God leading you? How is he speaking to your heart? Listen closely. Listen carefully. If and when he asks you to stick it out, he will give you the strength and wisdom you need to handle anything.
Sometimes the end result has been beautiful. Others I have not been so lucky to see such beauty in, but rather how incredibly dark this world truly is. And there are a few others that I have yet to see the final outcome, though I continue to have faith that God is working His hand in ways that I cannot even begin to understand or see at the moment.
Many of times, I have tried to handle each situation on my own terms, the way I felt was fit, with my own strength, and what I thought was wisdom. Except I quickly learned through God's incredible grace that I do not have the strength, wisdom, or understanding to handle any of these situations on my own...or anything really (but that is an entirely different subject there!)
Lately, I have tried to wash my hands of things and/or ignore them completely. I find that things never truly go away when you just turn your back on them. It is kind of like the questions, "if a tree falls in the forest, and no one is around to hear it, did it make a sound?" Well, of course it did. And just the same the situation is still there whether or not I try to acknowledge it. It is an extreme learning process.
As I was in service this morning using the same bible that I used when I was in high school, I stumbled across some notes written the margins of 1 Corinthians 13, dated October 12, 2001. Almost 7 years ago. And even though when I wrote those words, it was a different time, a different world, and a different situation (one of which seems silly and juvenile compared to all that I have faced now) it spoke wonders to my heart. The notes correspond to verse 7 which reads "Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance." (NLT) In bright red ink beside that verse I wrote, "If you love someone you will be loyal to him no matter what the cost. You will always believe in him, always expect the best of him, and always stand your ground in defending him." What an amazing verse! What amazing words to be reminded of. God is always intentional when we allow him to lead us and speak to us.
I truly believe that when we are involved in difficult situations, especially when it involves other people, we can become selfish. We worry about how it directly effects us. We question if it's worth the time. If it is worth the effort. Most of the time we bail out before we can ever see the results relying on others to do the work, or expecting for things to run their course and for a change to happen without any blood shed. But that is not what the scripture is teaching here, "Love NEVER gives up. " Though I believe that each persons situation is different and delicate in it's own way, we cannot rely on our own human emotions and strength to decide whether you stick it out or not. We must always fully rely on Christ alone. He never wants us to act alone. That is how love never gives up. That is how love never loses faith. That is how love endures through every circumstance! Because of Christ's love for us.
We live in a society where we expect instant gratification. That once we do what we think our part is, that the outcome should follow immediately. That is not always the case. That is the minority. I am tired of seeing people drop commitments because it is no longer convenient to them. It is no longer fun. It is no longer easy. It makes me question their initial commitment in the first place. Why were you doing it? Who were you doing it for?
It is easy to give up when we believe that we have put in the amount of effort a situation deserves, but the question is about the situation itself it is about the person. Do you love and care enough about this person to be there? Where is God leading you? How is he speaking to your heart? Listen closely. Listen carefully. If and when he asks you to stick it out, he will give you the strength and wisdom you need to handle anything.
