From Fatigue to Faithfulness

By: Carrie Hammye

Between Fatigue and Faithfulness

And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.”

‭‭James‬ ‭1‬:‭4‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Two years ago in late August, I was getting into the swing of things in a new school year. Tim and I were working hard to ride our bikes in the evening. We had been in peak shape a few years before but had let ourselves off the hook and not done as much cycling. So, we found a great road to ride and started doing some 14 mile evening rides to get into good condition. I remember that during that time I was working hard to maintain my time in the Word as well as my prayer time. I was getting up a little earlier than in past years so I could make sure I had enough time to linger in prayer. Ever since I got saved at 15, I have fought that fight to make sure that I have a daily time with God. Sometimes I’ve been very successful, and other times lackluster. But in my 50s I really felt like there was absolutely no excuse for me not to be faithful. As I put in those hours in prayer and even on my bike, I had no idea that I was about to endure the test of a lifetime. 

On September 25, 2024, my husband and I were out on a regular evening bike ride when a distracted driver hit us with his pickup truck going 55 miles an hour. Everything changed in that moment. Can I tell you that I had no idea that was going to happen? I had no clue in the month before the accident that my soul was preparing itself for a trial. 

I was caught between faithfulness and fatigue. Each day when the alarm went off, I had to push myself to get up, get out my Bible, and read. I had to keep my eyes open to write my prayers and talk to God. The fatigue pushed hard at faithfulness, and I had to lean into God to give me the strength to respond with persistence. And I’m so glad God helped me hang in there. If I had not been in good spiritual fighting shape when that terrible accident occurred, it could have done more than just physically maimed us, it could have spiritually destroyed us. I know my husband was also spending time daily in prayer and in the Word. 

What about you? How are things going with your prayer life? Are you fighting fatigue? Are you battling because you know you need to be faithful, but your schedule is ridiculous? May I be the one to remind you that we never know what is ahead? There are beautiful things and there are hard things. Our daily prayer time is an investment in our future. Through every season, good or bad, God is preparing us for the present moment and for what comes next. I want to encourage you that even when the fatigue is the worst, faithfulness is the right answer. Showing up for your prayer time and taking time to dig into God‘s word will produce incredible, long-term results.

1. Set a reminder on your phone that will go off daily to remind you to go into a time of prayer and Bible reading.

2. Don’t be afraid to pray right out in the middle of your home and its chaos. It’s good for your family to see you praying even when it’s not convenient.

3. If you mess up and miss a day, try again the next day, and the next, and the next.

 

Same God

By: Jenifer Metzger

But seek first the kingdom of God and His

righteousness, and all these things will be provided for you.

Matthew 6:33 CSB

When we open the pages of our Bible, we find true stories of God helping a young small David defeat a giant, parting an entire sea so the people could cross through on dry land, of shutting mouths of hungry lions so they don't bring harm to Daniel, of saving three young men from burning in a fiery furnace, of providing food for a hungry band of travelers, and so many other miracles.

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

Hebrews 13:8 CSB

The God of the Bible who did all of those things, who time and time again saved and provided for His people, He is the same God today. He still provides today like He did then. He still saves today like did then. He still performs miracle today like He did then. He is still faithful today like He was then. God hasn't changed. He is still taking care of His children as He always has.

 So don’t worry, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or

‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear?’

Matthew 6:31 CSB

Whether you are struggling with finances, marriage issues, broken relationships, health issues, a wayward child, loss of a dream, grief, or any other struggle, God is still the same God who moves these mountains. We never have to worry or stress because God knows are need and hears our prayers.

Friend place your faith in God and remember that your God is the same God of the Bible. 

Discussion:
1. Think back to a time God provided for you or saved you. When we remember what God has already done for us, it grows our faith.
2. Whatever your need is today, give it to God with full faith that He is the same God who saved Daniel, David, and others.

The Fruits of the Spirit Series: Faithfulness

 By: Rebekah Hargraves

Photo Courtesy of: Tony Ochoa

"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,"

~Galatians 5:22

In our series on the fruits of the Spirit, we come now to the fruit of faithfulness. This is a most timely topic to be studying, for we sadly live in a time and culture seriously lacking in this important fruit. Marriages are thrown away at the drop of a hat, friendships are broken, family ties are severed, business dealings turn sour, and political promises are reneged upon. If anything, faithlessness seems to be the characteristic of the day.

Throughout Scripture, meanwhile, we are repeatedly taught the importance of faithfulness. For example, here is a brief survey of Proverbs on the topic:

"Let not steadfast love and faithfulness forsake you;
    bind them around your neck;
    write them on the tablet of your heart.

So you will find favor and good success
    in the sight of God and man."

~Proverbs 3:3-4

"Steadfast love and faithfulness preserve the king, and by steadfast love his throne is upheld."

~Proverbs 20:28

"The one who pursues righteousness and faithful love will find life, righteousness, and honor."

~Proverbs 21:21

Why is faithfulness considered by God to be so important? Because He Himself is always faithful, and we are to bear His image. Consider the following passages:

"God is faithful, who has called you into fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord." 

~1 Corinthians 1:9

"But the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen you and protect you from the evil one." 

2 Thessalonians 3:3

"Know therefore that the LORD your God is God, the faithful God..." 

~Deuteronomy 7:9a

"God is not a man, that He should lie; neither the son of man, that He should repent: hath He said, and shall He not do it?"

~Numbers 23:19

"In hope of eternal life, which God, who cannot lie, promised before the world began."

~Titus 1:2

"It is impossible for God to lie, so we who have fled to Him for refuge can have great confidence."

~Hebrews 6:18

Our God's faithfulness is incredibly important, good news for us, because His faithfulness is what enables us to trust Him. If He weren't faithful to His promises, we would have no hope of eternal life. With the Lord, His faithfulness is a matter of life and death for us. It is incredibly important! 

So, too, must we take the topic of our own faithfulness just as seriously. Faithfulness is no insignificant thing, and while we as sinful humans will sometimes struggle in our own flesh to remain faithful to our commitments and the promises we have made, the good news is that we do not have to - nor are we expected to! - rely on our own efforts. Faithfulness is a fruit of the *Spirit*, so just as with the other fruits, the Spirit Himself naturally cultivates in us this fruit as we walk with Him. And that's good news for all of us!  

Reflection Questions:

1) How have you seen the importance of faithfulness show up in your own life or in the lives of people you know?

2) What makes faithfulness so important? 

3) How can you grow in faithfulness?

Who is Your Neighbor?

 By: Joanne Viola

 

There was a time our youngest granddaughter loved to use the word “humans” in conversation. As often as she could, the word would be inserted and it rolled off her tongue in a most curious way.

It would cause me to realize the sanctity of the word. Humans are people who share some common characteristics and those very characteristics make us all equal in some way.

“We’re all neighbors. Everybody’s different. And there are some things about everybody that are the same. That’s what’s wonderful. That’s what helps us to understand each other. That we’ve got some things inside of us that are the same as somebody else’s. We’re all humans.” (Mr. Rogers)

Neighbors are those persons who are near to one another. Maybe that is what became confusing to the lawyer who asked Jesus the question,

“And who is my neighbor?” 
(Luke 10:29, NASB) 

Jesus proceeds to answer the question with the parable of The Good Samaritan. The Samaritans were hated by the Jews. Jesus wisely flips the hero of the story to be the Samaritan. It wasn’t the Jewish people helping the Samaritan, robbed and badly beaten. It was the Samaritan who displayed love to the one who hated him. It was the Samaritan who risked his life and spent his own money to tend to the Jew and make sure he was well cared for as he healed.

It was the Samaritan who defined the word “neighbor” not only for the Jewish lawyer, but for us all.

Our neighbors are those who:

• live on either side of us
•  live in the same house as us
• sit next to us in church
• are in line at the supermarket with us
• sit near us in the doctor’s waiting room
• are in school with us
• work with us
• drive on the same roads as us

Neighbors – they are all around us each and every day.

As the conversation between the lawyer and Jesus continued, Jesus asks him a sobering question:

“Which of these three do you think proved to be a neighbor 
to the man who fell into the robbers’ hands?” 
(Luke 10:36, NASB)

Two men had literally walked passed the beaten man without offering any help. The lawyer had heard the story and rightly responds, 

“The one who showed mercy toward him.”
(verse 37, NASB) 

We don’t need any reason to offer mercy to another other than they are a human, a person in need. Jesus tells the lawyer, and us today,  

“Go and do the same.” 
(verse 37, NASB)

“O people, the Lord has told you what is good,
and this is what he requires of you:
to do what is right, to love mercy,
and to walk humbly with your God.”
(Micah 6:8, NLT) 

 

Reflection: 
Who might God be identifying as your neighbor today? 

 

Image by dlsd cgl from Pixabay

 

 

 

The Spiritual Discipline No One Talks About: Waiting

Waiting is one of the hardest things we do as believers. We know how to pray. We know how to worship. We know how to serve. We can even learn to fast. But waiting? Waiting feels like doing nothing. We pray, then we wait for the answer. We ask God for direction and then we wait for clarity. We believe him for breakthrough, and then we wait for the door to open. And sometimes, the waiting seems to stretch on far longer than we expected. But what if waiting isn't wasted time? What if it is actually a spiritual discipline? 

Scripture is filled with people who had to wait. Abraham waited for the promised son. Joseph waited through years of slavery and imprisonment before seeing God's purpose unfold. David was anointed king long before he actually sat on the throne. Even Jesus spent years in preparation before beginning his public ministry. 

God does some of his deepest work in us while we're waiting for him to do something around us. Waiting teaches us to trust when we don't have answers. It teaches us patience when we want immediate results. It teaches us obedience when we don't know what comes next. And perhaps most importantly, waiting reminds us that God's timing is not the same thing as God's absence. 

Sometimes we think nothing is happening because we can't see anything happening. But roots grow in the dark. God may be preparing circumstances, preparing other people, or- perhaps most importantly- preparing us. So what do we do when we're waiting? We serve. 

When you find yourself in a season of waiting, so what waiters do...serve. 

Don't put your life on hold because you're waiting for the next chapter. Serve where you are. Love the people in front of you. Do the work God has already placed in your hands. Encourage someone who is struggling. Show up. Pray. Be faithful in the small things. 

You may be waiting for the right job, the right relationship, healing, an answer to prayer, a prodigal child to come home, a dream to become reality, or simply some clarity about what comes next. But when you're waiting for that, there is still a today to live. And today matters. Paul tells us in Galatians 6:9 not to become weary in doing good, because in due time we will reap a harvest if we don't give up. 

Notice that phrase: in due time. Not our time. Not our preferred time. His time. 

Waiting requires us to trust that God knows what we don't and sees what we cannot see. Maybe your season of waiting isn't an interruption to what God is doing. Maybe it is part of what God is doing so don't waste your waiting. Let God develop your character while you wait for the answer. Let Him deepen your faith while you wait for the breakthrough. Let him teach you contentment while you wait for the next opportunity. And while you wait, keep serving. 

Because faithfulness doesn't begin when the answer arrives. Faithfulness is what we practice while we're waiting for it. 

Reflection: What are you waiting for right now? Instead of asking only, "Will this season end?" ask, "What is God inviting me to learn, become, or do while I am here?"