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The Key to.............

........hmmmm, what shall I call it??

Normally, when you see that phrase, you see the word "success" after the word "to". I hesitate to use that phrase in it's entirety, since in my mind it conjurs up all types of worldly "get rich" schemes.

However, this morning, and actually for the past few months, I have been on a search for a way to be more consistent in many areas of my life. And this morning, I believe I stumbled across (did I really stumble, or did God put it in my path in His perfect timing?), the solution for some really tough areas of my life.

I will quote in it's entirety, a little devotion from a booklet entitled, "Journey". The title of this message was, "Don't Give Up" and under the title was the quote, "...for ye had need of patience......" from Hebrews 10:36, "You need to persevere."

Some friends advised Mary to get a divorce when her husband left her and their 10 year old twins. Others encouraged her to give her husband time to sort out his confused thoughts. While divorce seemed a quick way to bring resolution to the pain and disorder in her life, she decided to listen to those who told her to wait and perserve. Mary spent many hours on her knees praying. She poured through Scriptures and talked to Christian friends and counselors, allowing God to give her guidance for each step she took. It was a long and difficult road, but in the end, Mary and her husband experienced God's bountiful grace and were reunited.

Through her arduous period of suffering, Mary realized that the outcome of her circumstances could go either way. But by giving God time to work, she knew whatever happened in her marriage, God could strengthen her and take her to new depths in her relationship with Him. Her perseverance brought new depth of character, which enabled her to dig down into God's resources and abide with Him within the shelter of His sustaining love.

When trials uproot the security of our world, we are at a loss to understand why a loving, merciful and omnipotent God allows us to suffer. But sometimes it is in such dead-ends of suffering that we stretch our inner person to reach into God's deeper truths. Thomas Edison once said: "Our greatest weakness lies in giving up. The most certain way to succeed is always to try just one more time." Continuing to persevere when things are hard makes us stronger and builds character.

Do circumstances in life sometimes bring you so low you feel like giving up? You may feel discouraged in your job, or in your relationships at home or at work. But this may be a time for perseverance. Sometimes we need to dig deep and let God grow within us the spiritual fruit that has yet to ripen in our lives. Perseverance requires patience, humility, faith, prayer, wisdom and endurance.

Then, directly under this story was a caption that read "Deeper Walk", and listed under this was the scripture reference, Hebrews 10:35-39.....and after reading that passage of scripture, I came to understand my problem of inconsistency in an entirely different light.

Hebrews 10:35-39, "Cast (throw) not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompense (compensation) of reward. For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise. For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come and will not tarry. Now the just (righteous) shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him. But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition (utter ruin, destruction), but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.

Wow! What this verse says is a Command,( written in the imperative). I am Commanded to not throw away my confidence", which has great compensation......in other words, if I keep whatever confidence I have in a certain thing, then that very confidence gives me great compensation, or payment in return for having it.

This verse also tells me I have need of patience (did Paul talk to my husband before he wrote this?). After I have done the will of God, I need patience....in whatever......I need patience as a believer that if Jesus says he is coming back, He will. I need patience as a wife, that if my husband disappoints me, I will pray through that trial and see what happens on the other side, not just throw in the towel. I need patience as a mother, that if my children stray from the faith, I have taught them.  I will pray,  and be assured that God is working in their lives and will do His perfect will in their lives, not what I want to happen.

I shall (another imperative) live by faith, not maybe, not should, not if I want to , but I shall live by faith. However, if I go back on that faith, or "draw back" as the verse says; or just sort of "give up" in that confidence I had in the fact that Jesus is coming back, or that my husband really loves me or that my children will return to the faith in which they were raised. Then other believers who are watching me and my reactions to those trials in my life, are going to be disappointed. I am not to be one who backslides into total destruction, but I am to believe (have faith) that Jesus saved my soul and is coming back for me, will lead my husband out of his trials and will draw my children back to Him.

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