"Life is tough. Decisions are hard. I wish I could stop the world and get off. I wish people would stop trying to "help" their way into my decisions. It's making it worse." Ever feel like that? Life gets confusing so quick, doesn't it? Decisions are rarely black and white. People are never exactly how you expect them to be. With everything seeming to shake where you stand, it can be difficult to hold your resolve.
I often find myself overthinking. Relient K has a song that says "I've been thinking over thinking, cause there's just too many scenarios to analyze, to think about..." I get that way a lot. I can think/talk myself out of so many things. It's easy to get caught up in the what-if's. It's easy to second guess choices and decisions once they're made. Was that really what God wanted me to do? Did I just screw that up? Maybe I should go back. If only I had a reset button.
It's hard to keep the faith. To keep resolve in those tough decisions that make your heart ache or make life different. To live counter-cultural.
Here are some verses about standing firm that are encouraging when life gets too rough, too confusing, too unknown or when decisions become too unsure:
"Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings. And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast." 1 Peter 5:8-10 (NIV)
Isn't it great to know that we are NOT alone in our suffering and that even suffering has a purpose: to strengthen and make us steadfast?
"But we ought always to thank God for you, brothers and sisters loved by the Lord, because God chose you as firstfruits to be saved through the sanctifying work of the Spirit and through belief in the truth. He called you to this through our gospel, that you might share in the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. So then, brothers and sisters, stand firm and hold fast to the teachings we passed on to you, whether by word of mouth or by letter. May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word." 2 Thessalonians 2:13-17
Wow, we get to share in the glory of Jesus Christ! And He, the Author of love and grace, wants to "encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word'. Incredible!
"So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall! No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he
will also provide a way out so that you can endure it." 1 Corinthians 10:12
It is easy to become shaken by the common, unseen things. BUT God is faithful! I never cease to be amazed by God's faithfulness. He won't give us too much to handle and He will make sure we have an escape.
"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 in vain." 1 Corinthians 15:58
God doesn't let obedience fall unnoticed. His work is never in vain. The decisions we make have meaning and purpose. Hold fast! Stand firm! Let nothing move you! Stand on the solid foundation of Jesus. His truth means something.
Stand firm, my sisters! Hold fast to Jesus! Hold tight in your decisions for Jesus.
Going green,
Jenny
I often find myself overthinking. Relient K has a song that says "I've been thinking over thinking, cause there's just too many scenarios to analyze, to think about..." I get that way a lot. I can think/talk myself out of so many things. It's easy to get caught up in the what-if's. It's easy to second guess choices and decisions once they're made. Was that really what God wanted me to do? Did I just screw that up? Maybe I should go back. If only I had a reset button.
It's hard to keep the faith. To keep resolve in those tough decisions that make your heart ache or make life different. To live counter-cultural.
Here are some verses about standing firm that are encouraging when life gets too rough, too confusing, too unknown or when decisions become too unsure:
"Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings. And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast." 1 Peter 5:8-10 (NIV)
Isn't it great to know that we are NOT alone in our suffering and that even suffering has a purpose: to strengthen and make us steadfast?
"But we ought always to thank God for you, brothers and sisters loved by the Lord, because God chose you as firstfruits to be saved through the sanctifying work of the Spirit and through belief in the truth. He called you to this through our gospel, that you might share in the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. So then, brothers and sisters, stand firm and hold fast to the teachings we passed on to you, whether by word of mouth or by letter. May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word." 2 Thessalonians 2:13-17
Wow, we get to share in the glory of Jesus Christ! And He, the Author of love and grace, wants to "encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word'. Incredible!
"So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall! No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he
will also provide a way out so that you can endure it." 1 Corinthians 10:12
It is easy to become shaken by the common, unseen things. BUT God is faithful! I never cease to be amazed by God's faithfulness. He won't give us too much to handle and He will make sure we have an escape.
"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 in vain." 1 Corinthians 15:58
God doesn't let obedience fall unnoticed. His work is never in vain. The decisions we make have meaning and purpose. Hold fast! Stand firm! Let nothing move you! Stand on the solid foundation of Jesus. His truth means something.
Stand firm, my sisters! Hold fast to Jesus! Hold tight in your decisions for Jesus.
Going green,
Jenny
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