waiting with patience in the Strength of His Might...

"Those who sow in tears will reap with songs of joy." -Psalm 126:5

"It is good that we should have to submit to what we do not understand. It teaches us the laws of faith and hope. 

It is good that we should have to do what we should rather not, in circumstances not of our choice. 

It is good that there should be always something to prick us on, something to remind us that we are in an enemy's country, belong to a marching column. 

It is good that we should meet with checks and failures in what we undertake, to keep us humble and prayerful. 

All these things belong to sowing in tears. 

God seems to have laid out the order of things in His Church, not for a general and brilliant triumph but for the hidden sanctification of the individual souls which compose it." 
-Janet Erskine Stuart from Prayer in Faith

Friends, press on! March on! Fight on! 

"Wrestling, loneliness, impatience- for our hidden sanctification. The trial of our faith is a thing more precious than gold. Must we go for the gold? We must." -Elizabeth Elliot from Quest for Love

"Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. Put on the full armor of God that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, I ought to speak." -Ephesians 6:10-20 

"Because we are sinners and live in a fractured world, we must have tribulation. Jesus promised it- but (don't forget) He added, "Cheer up! I have overcome the world!" 
Therefore, it is as we realistically name and accept the truth about ourselves that we come to see that He alone it the Living Fountain. He alone can save us from ourselves." 
-Elizabeth Elliot from Quest for Love

We may not understand our present situation, circumstances, state of physical body, spiritual mind, or emotional heart, but we can know for certain the gospel which brings us true peace- not the peace we can search for and find of our own accord, but the peace of God which He gives willingly, gladly, and freely. Let us trust the One who knows us better than we know ourselves and who loves us more purely and unconditionally than we could ever even love ourselves. Let us wait with patience for Him and serve Him faithfully. 

"For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation had been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience. 

Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. And He who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to His purpose. For those whom He foreknew He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, in order that He might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those whom He predestined He also called, and those whom He called He also justified, and those whom He justified He also glorified." -Romans 8:18-30 

"So, we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight in glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to things that are seen but to things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal." -2 Cor. 4:16-18

"What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare His own Son but gave Him up for us all, how will He not also with him graciously give us all things? Who shall bring any charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the One who died- more than that, who was raised- who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? As it is written,  

"For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered." (Ps. 44:22)

No, in all theses things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord." -Romans 8:31-39

So then, friends, we have NOTHING to fear but God Himself- and fear Him reverently, recognizing and repenting from what we truly were and turning to God, knowing HE is God and He is good and so so so merciful.

How humbling and yet so confidence building- confidence in the One who is our Strength and our Might.