July 02, 2017

Sunday Devotional With Mr. E: STAND

During my freshman year of college I had a make it or break it moment.  I was wrestling with one of the assignments in my 2-D Foundations class.  I just could not figure out what to do, how to do it, or even why I was doing it. I wanted to give up.  It was the only time an art project made me cry (other when I smashed my finger off in sculpture and they thought they'd have to amputate half my hand...but that is a story for another day).  I even contemplated quitting college and moving back home.  I thought that if a project in my very first studio class my very first semester stressed me out so bad that there would be no way I'd ever make it through the program. Somewhere in the midst of the struggle, I decided that I'd not let this assignment get the best of me.  I pressed onward and complete it to the best of my ability.  I would love to tell you in the end it was an A+ work, and that my professor and fellow students were in awe of its beauty & inspiration.   However, I can not. Though it wasn't my greatest work of art...it holds a special place in my heart.  It showed me that I could push through the frustration, insecurities, lack of understanding, lack of skill, and exhaustion to complete whatever task I found myself facing.  


Therefore my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm.  Let nothing move you.  Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not the vain.  
1 Corinthians 15:58

There have been times in most of our lives where we have cried out to God and told Him we're done...through...we quit.  Whatever we're facing seems to have gotten the better of us, and we just can't do it any more.  Work, family, friends, health, or even things going on in the church(An imperfect place with imperfect people...you better believe the struggle is real in the church as well!).  God wants to hear from His children!  Even when we are crying out in frustration...He wants to hear our heart!  We don't need to put on airs.  God wants to hear it all, but he doesn't want our two weeks notice.  He wants us to push onward.  He knows the ending, and He knows it is for our good & His glory that we continue through the pain, through the frustration, and see it through till the end.  We must stand firm & let nothing move us away from God's plan & direction for our lives.We must remember that nothing we do for the Lord will be in vain, but will reveal to us & those around us the goodness of God & His glory.  

1 comment:

  1. This touched me this AM, thank you. Head down, face forward, and hands still towards God.

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