Persevere

Hebrews 10:36-39.  One of the many pieces of Scripture that I've read at just the right time.  Going into a new city, with new people, and a new job is extremely overwhelming as I've learned in the past two days.  Nobody said summer project would be easy.  One of my last nights forcing Matt to drive my car around Hickory, we went past a church with a lit sign.  It was a simple saying, but extremely true: "Faith makes things possible, not easy."  Nobody ever said that being a Christian paved the way for you to have an amazing life.  Yes, as Christians, we always have eternal hope knowing that Jesus died for us and that we are saved from our sinful nature as humans.  But the walk getting to the end of our lives is going to be plagued by trials and suffering.  But its in those times, that we even more so learn to lean on God with all that we have.  As I understand through the Word, we know "that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope."  Its like a great circle of things Jesus has promised us as his people.  Yes, we'll be given trials and hard times, but as cliche as it sounds, it truly is all for a reason.  Tough times call us closer to the Lord.  Tough times cause us to band together as a community.  Not only do we have a Holy, everlasting support in God, but our friends and family have been given to us by Jesus.  He wants us to talk to them.  They are in our lives for a very specific reason.  The 40 other college students I'm on project with, are all here with different backgrounds and experiences, but we are all here for each other.  Even though we still don't know everyone's names yet, I know that these people understand the trials and glories that come with being a follower of the Lord.  And that, is beyond amazing.