While our 12 year old daughter has many strengths, one of them is not the subject of math.
And it doesn’t help that both her younger and older brother can do math like a wiz with no problem at all. This has been a real struggle for her, that sometimes seems insurmountable.
But to her credit, she’s not allowed it to get her down. She has rather chosen to hold her head up, and stay determined to succeed in this area of her schooling. I’ve been encouraged, challenged, and motivated by her “kick yourself in the pants and get over it” kind of attitude of confidence in the midst of a trying situation.
She’s done what I believe David did when he was “greatly distressed” in I Samuel 30:6, when the Bible says that “he encouraged himself in the Lord his God.”
I remember those days, when school subjects and projects would consume my mind and my world. And I would almost wish that the world would just come to an end rather than have to face what seemed at the time like impossible tasks.
Well, things don’t get any easier with age, do they?…
As we get older, I think you’d agree that the things we faced as a child begin to pale in comparison to what we’ve had to face in “real life” as an adult. Yes, we still face seemingly insurmountable circumstances, but it’s certainly of a different kind.
I’m not sure what the challenges are that you’ve faced over the past year, or are currently facing, but I’m sure that you have some. It might be…
- the loss of a family member that you love
- the pain of a rebellious or wayward child
- a job situation that seems impossible to reconcile
- a relationship that only gets worse the harder you try
- a prayer that still goes unanswered
While I don’t know your specific struggle, I’ll guarantee you that you do, and you’re probably thinking of it right now as you’re reading this. You may even feel like completely giving up.
I know that there were some areas in my life that I was considering ‘giving up’ in this coming year, but I was motivated to continue to ‘stay in the fight’ due to my daughters’ example.
May I encourage you with the strong words of my daughter to remember that whatever it is that you are facing…
“It’s a part of life. Deal with it. Never give up. You can do it!”
I hope that you’ll be as encouraged by her spirit as much as I was, and that you’ll also find encouragement from these verses of scripture as well, to remind you of the perspective God intends for you to have in your life’s struggles and trials.
Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him. Psalm 42:5
I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the Lord. Psalm 27:13-14
Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest. Joshua 1:9
I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. Philippians 4:13
As for God, his way is perfect. Proverbs 18:30
Sounds like God is saying something that sounds a bit familiar – “It’s a part of life. Deal with it. Never give up. You can do it!”
Another year will certainly come with it’s challenges. Praying that as you enter a new year God would grant you the spirit of endurance and perseverance through whatever you may face.
Even if it’s not you that needed to hear this today, maybe it’s somebody else… please share.
Faith & I on a Starbucks run after some paintball fun
