Remember the Beginning

Every one goes through hard times. Maybe it is just with one relationship, or with a job, or maybe everything in life is going wrong.  Typically, I run...just look at my track record you will see that it's true.  Part of the reason I ended up in Tennessee at Bryan College is because I wanted to start over in a new place with new people.  Anyway, while I do think that God lead me to Bryan College - sometimes running isn't what God wants us to do.    It feels easier to run away and escape whatever is troubling us.  Most of the time the thing that is causing us to suffer seems so huge that we cannot see any way to possibly fix it.  I believe (and was reminded last week) that during these trails in our lives - no matter what it may be or involve - number 1 God will always be faithful and see us through, number 2 God may be calling us to stay, and number 3 remember God's promises.  Number 3 especially hit me hard last week.  A couple came to the AMG Home Office last week as missionary candidates.  The wife said that her mentor told her to write down the promises she believed God had for her. She told us that she goes back to that list of promises anytime she feels discouraged or troubled.  What an encouragement!  Even through the hard times God's promises still ring true in our lives.  Sometimes we need to remember the beginning and how God brought us to where we are now in order to see through the bad.

Romans 5:1-5

Therefore, since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us. Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of undeserved privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God’s glory.

We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation.  And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.