By Linda Papillon
“What a caterpillar calls the end of the world, the Creator calls a butterfly.” (From A Path Through Suffering by Elisabeth Elliot).
My husband loves to roam among the book shelves of Goodwill and recently found a novel about a family in Colorado having to become refugees because of their offensive Christian beliefs--being right wing home schoolers, pro-life, attending a “fundamentalist” church, etc. This book was published in 1996 and what might have seemed far out 13 years ago, is actually becoming reality today. As I write this, the so-called “hate crimes” legislation has already passed the House and is in the Senate. Basically, this would make it legal to investigate, prosecute, and persecute anyone whose actions reflect their faith. Will our pastor husbands end up being arrested and hauled off to jail for reading a Bible passage that might offend certain minorities in America? Could this actually happen in the land of the free and the brave? How could we endure such hardship? It’s tempting to panic and give in to fear and isolation, maybe even stockpile food and ammunition to survive a little longer.
Life is a boot camp of sorts, learning endurance in various ways. There’s the physical kind like training for a marathon or 5K. Some of us have emotional trials like praying a prodigal child back into the faith or the ups and downs of caring for a loved one with cancer. But we all need to build up our strength in the spiritual disciplines of daily time with the Lord, memorizing His Word, and waiting on Him in prayer and meditation. God uses all of these ways to teach us to depend on His faithfulness.
Mark 11:22b simply states: “Have faith in God.” Hold on to His faithfulness. Christians who look forward to the future are Christians who have looked back at the faithfulness of God. Is there any doubt of God’s faithfulness? Read through Psalm 136 without skipping a word and you will read “His steadfast love endures forever” 26 times! It’s been so helpful for me to then journal what that means to me for even the routine things of the day. As we learn more of Who He is and what He’s done, we will have to humbly bow and worship the One who is the same yesterday and today and forever. (Hebrews 13:8)
“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.” (Joshua 1:9)
“What a caterpillar calls the end of the world, the Creator calls a butterfly.” (From A Path Through Suffering by Elisabeth Elliot).
My husband loves to roam among the book shelves of Goodwill and recently found a novel about a family in Colorado having to become refugees because of their offensive Christian beliefs--being right wing home schoolers, pro-life, attending a “fundamentalist” church, etc. This book was published in 1996 and what might have seemed far out 13 years ago, is actually becoming reality today. As I write this, the so-called “hate crimes” legislation has already passed the House and is in the Senate. Basically, this would make it legal to investigate, prosecute, and persecute anyone whose actions reflect their faith. Will our pastor husbands end up being arrested and hauled off to jail for reading a Bible passage that might offend certain minorities in America? Could this actually happen in the land of the free and the brave? How could we endure such hardship? It’s tempting to panic and give in to fear and isolation, maybe even stockpile food and ammunition to survive a little longer.
Life is a boot camp of sorts, learning endurance in various ways. There’s the physical kind like training for a marathon or 5K. Some of us have emotional trials like praying a prodigal child back into the faith or the ups and downs of caring for a loved one with cancer. But we all need to build up our strength in the spiritual disciplines of daily time with the Lord, memorizing His Word, and waiting on Him in prayer and meditation. God uses all of these ways to teach us to depend on His faithfulness.
Mark 11:22b simply states: “Have faith in God.” Hold on to His faithfulness. Christians who look forward to the future are Christians who have looked back at the faithfulness of God. Is there any doubt of God’s faithfulness? Read through Psalm 136 without skipping a word and you will read “His steadfast love endures forever” 26 times! It’s been so helpful for me to then journal what that means to me for even the routine things of the day. As we learn more of Who He is and what He’s done, we will have to humbly bow and worship the One who is the same yesterday and today and forever. (Hebrews 13:8)
“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.” (Joshua 1:9)
