Tuesday, June 10, 2008

Resist Discouragement

As many of you have been reading exerpts from my daily devotional The Purpose Driven Life, I wanted to share this with everyone who is waiting during their adoption process, for those of you who are praying for something that might not have come to pass yet and for those of you who ask, "Why?" these recent events have happened to us. We are certain in God's timing. This only serves to reinforce that certainty. I hope this can help you as well.

Resist Discouragement
by Rick Warren

You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised. For in just a very little while, “He who is coming will come and will not delay.” Hebrews 10:36-37 (NIV)

If you’re discouraged because of God’s delay in answering your prayers, understand the delay is NOT a denial. Just because the answer or the miracle hasn’t come – yet – that doesn’t mean God isn’t going to answer, or that he’s forgotten you, or that he doesn’t care about you. It simply means “not yet!”

Spiritual maturity is knowing the difference between “No” and “Not yet,” between a denial and a delay. The Bible tells us, “He who is coming will come and will not delay” (Hebrews 10:37 NIV).
The delay may be a test of your patience. Anybody can be patient once. And, anybody can be patient twice. And, just about anybody can be patient three times. So God tests you patience over and over and over.

Why? To see how patient you are?

No, he does it to show you how patient you are. So you’ll know what’s inside of you, and you’ll be able to know your level of commitment. God tests you so that you can know he is faithful, even if the answers you seek are delayed.If you’re discouraged, turn it around by remembering God teaches you patience during delay. Ask him to transform your discouragement into patience.

You may be going through difficult times right now and feel like dropping off the planet. You’re discouraged because the situation you face seems unmanageable, unreasonable, or unfair.
It may seem unbearable and inside you’re basically saying, “God, I can’t take it anymore. I just can’t take it anymore!”


But you can.

You can stay with it longer because God is with you. He’ll enable you to press on. Remember, you are never a failure until you quit.

Don’t quit. Resist discouragement and finish the race God has set before you.


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6 comments:

Heather Brandt said...

Thanks for sharing the devotional! It certainly blessed me as I have experienced some discouragement lately that we haven't yet received any adoption grant/loan funds.

May God continue to bless you as you journey towards the little girl He has planned for you!

Heather
www.russianblessings.wordpress.com

Hubbards said...

I really needed that devotional today! You are such a blessing and inspiration to me. I usually do not comment but read your blog daily as well as say prayers for you and your family.

God Bless You,
Tina

Monica said...

"The delay may be a test of your patience. Anybody can be patient once. And, anybody can be patient twice. And, just about anybody can be patient three times. So God tests you patience over and over and over."

THAT part made me laugh out loud... a year or so ago that part would have brought me to tears but God HAS shown me that I actually can be patient and God has TAUGHT me that I want what God wants for my life. I do NOT want to be in charge because I know that if I had been I would have missed out on my fantastic blessing that abound in my life. The veil has been lifted over time gradually for me to see that OUR daughter is special and we will meet her in an entirely different way than we have met our FIVE sons.

I think ALL of us reading your blog could use a daily devotional on patience. It is SO overwhelming to REMAIN patient.

I hope you're doing okay Maria getting settled at home and recharging for the next phase of your journey.

Rachel said...

Maria, all I can say is thank you for your faith. I know being called an inspiration feels so trite at this time, but God has formed this situation into a blessing for so many of us. We pray that you will be blessed with amazing things your family. And I truly believe that a little girl on the other side of the world will have more prayers covering her than ever before.

littlebluecottage said...

I just wanted to say that I am thinking of you all so much and hoping peace and healing for your hearts very soon.

Tina

Lori said...

Oh, Maria...what a Godly woman you are! Our Lord is so proud of you and I just know He is up there going, "I knew she had faith..I knew she was Mine." I just love your heart, and reading your husband's blog was so touching. You are right when you say that your little girl will truly receive a blessing with him as a dad. I can't wait for that day for all of you!
Lots of love!
Lori