I already talked about how fighting a war bigger than ourselves is a crucial element in a true adventurous life. We love fighting wars, the only problem though is we often give up once it get’s hard. I know, I know, it’s hard, that’s the point. Honestly, things might stay hard for a long time. It doesn’t matter how long or how hard it gets, what does matter is that you stay strong.
The Internal Battle
The moment you decide to fight, you will recognize your weakness. It’s hard. Don’t get me wrong, Every day may feel like you’re hiking up a hill so steep you might as well call it a cliff. Don’t give up. The key is to not focus on the moment. Remind yourself why you are fighting. Remember that every hill has its peak. Your hard work will be rewarded. They might be small rewards, they might not come very often, but your task is to be faithful.
God is the one in charge of the results. Your responsibility is to show up, follow God’s leading, and fight your hardest when and where he calls you to fight. The great thing is, you can always turn to God for strength, guidance, motivation, and encouragement. When you are on God’s team, you can only win. He’s your only hope if you want to stay strong.
The Hardest Season of My Life
College was probably the hardest season of my life. I decided to live at home while studying so I wouldn’t have to worry about any student debt. It was smart decision, but it was a hard one. living at home was not easy in the slightest. I felt like I had to walk on eggshells every second I was home. I never knew if I’d be forced into a demeaning debate. I could pretty much count on getting called a terrible person five times a week. It wasn’t fun.
Notice how I haven’t said this was the worst time of my life? It was the hardest time for sure, but it definitely wasn’t the worst. It wasn’t anywhere near the worst because my focus was on Christ. Despite the five years of hardship, I endured through Christ’s strength alone. I got good grades, I took huge steps of faith, and I saw several friends turn to Christ for the first time and ask him to save them from their sins.
Those were amazing years of fruitfulness and personal growth. That didn’t happen because I ran away, or ignored the problem. There’s plenty of other times in which I did run away, but not this time. This season was a personal victory for me because I held my position and stayed strong. I look back with pride at those years, as I have with many years since.
Stay Strong
I want you to look back at your life and feel good about it. In order to do so, you need to find your war, and then you need to stay strong. I believe you can do it if you anchor yourself to God and his word. How great would it be to look back when you are 60 and feel both satisfied and proud of the way you spent your life. I can promise you won’t feel the same way if you spent most of your life running from problems and always spending your free time watching TV or playing video games.
It might not be glamorous, but it is real. If you want your life to count, then you need to stay strong. It won’t be easy, but it will be good. Good luck!
If you didn’t read my previous post about finding your battle, you can check it out here: Recognize the War
I want to hear from you too! Have you faced a hard season and overcome? Tell me about it by commenting below.
Great post. I appreciated the reminder that God is in charge of results; our job is just to be faithful.