Called to Persevere

When you go through deep waters, I will be with you.
When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown.
When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you.

I’ve read this verse so many times, each time soaking in the comfort it provides. Yet, when I read it again recently, there was more.

There was still the comfort and reassurance I was seeking, but there was also the reminder to persevere. {Tweet this}

As much as I’d like God to remove the obstacles and difficulties I’m facing, that doesn’t always happen. He does promise, though, to be there with me.

As I persevere through the deep waters of disappointment and discouragement, He walks through the waves with me.

As I persevere through life’s storms and the rivers of difficulty, He keeps me from drowning.

As I persevere through the flames of oppression, hardship, and suffering, He keeps me from burning.

As I persevere through daily difficulties and life’s hardest days, God is there, walking with me—making sure it doesn’t consume me.

His promise to you, and to me—
He will be with us every step of the way.
Guiding, guarding, and protecting.
Offering strength, comfort, and reassurance.
Today and all of our tomorrows.

We only have to look to Him, trust Him, and rely upon Him.

He will be by your side, and mine, as we persevere one day at a time. {Tweet this}

When you face stormy seas I will be there with you with endurance and calmyou will not be engulfed in raging rivers.
    If it seems like you’re walking through fire with flames licking at your limbs, keep going; you won’t be burned.

In Christ,
Laura 

[Photo credit: Unsplash.com]

Linking up with: Moments of Hope, #DreamTogether, #glimpsesofHisbeauty, PurposefulFaith, #TellHisStory, From Messes to Messages, Coffee for Your Heart, Recharge Wednesday, Writer Wednesday, Porch Stories, Grace Moments, #ChasingCommunity, Faith on Fire, Grace & Truth, Faith ‘n Friends, #FreshMarketFriday, Jami Amerine

23 comments:

  1. Love this verse. It talks to so many situations in life and how we need not worry, just keep on persevering because he is there beside us keeping us safe.

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  2. Laura, The verse you shared was the very first one I committed to memory as a new believer. My prayer partner and I memorized it together.

    I never realized that indeed it is calling us to persevere while it reminds us that God is with us in the perseverance.

    Thanks for the encouragement.

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    1. Thank you for reading Karen. I'm glad it encouraged you. 😊

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  3. Ah, Laura ... I need this today. Disappointment and discouragement are hard, but knowing that God has gone before us and is with us is a huge comfort. Praying for His strength as you persevere ...

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    1. Thank you Lois. I'm glad you found encouragement here!

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  4. I love that verse! The promises of God are so wonderful, and they show how much He loves us! Praise the Lord that He is always faithful to keep them!

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  5. I've been walking through so many fires and deep waters and storms for so many years. Just when the fire seems to be almost out, a flood comes. When the waters are almost dried up, another storms starts brewing. My faith starts to soar when it looks like what I've prayed for is really starting to happen. Then it's like it fades as quickly as it started to appear. Down on my knees again, asking for forgiveness for doubting, fearing, questioning. There is where the sweetest times with Father happens. There is where I'm held and rocked and reminded of His love, His grace, His mercy, and I'm safe. Safe in knowing that He has a plan, a purpose. That I don't have to know the what, when and how, I just have to know Him. I just need to know Him, my Father, and rest in His unfailing love and perfect timing. When this reassurance happens He gives me grace to surrender my cares to Him, again, and I realize in His love is where I'm meant to be, to stay. Oh how sweet to trust in JESUS, just to take Him at His word. Perhaps some of your readers might be going through the up and down fires, storms and floods of having children that are being ravished by drug addiction, and other life threatening addictions. If so, I pray for them now, asking Father to bring them to that sweet sweet secret hiding place in His loving arms. And that Father will overwhelm them with His peace, strength, and calm assurance...As He does what only He can do in their children's lives, to save, heal, deliver, restore, reconcile, fill with Holy Spirit, and place them in the purpose and plans He has for each of them...In the precious name of JESUS...Amen...Let it be so.

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    1. Amen and amen! Sometimes life feels like an emotional roller coaster, and it wears me out. Jesus is where I can be held steady, no matter of the ups and downs in life. He is our unchanging foundation. Thank you for your comment and for praying for anyone who is struggling!

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  6. Just beautiful, And you have only to persevere for the next moment.

    The strength to get through the one after that WILL come.

    Your neighbour at 'From Messes Toi Messages'.

    http://blessed-are-the-pure-of-heart.blogspot.com/2017/05/your-dying-spouse-317-lessons-from-floor.html

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    1. Thank you Andrew. It's so true - like God provided daily manna for the Israelites, He gives us the strength and ability to persevere moment to moment.

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  7. Yes, and we persevere in faith. Thanks, Laura, for taking the emphasis off bootstraps and grit, and placing it on the true source of our tenacity!

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    1. Great point Michele. We tend to focus on pulling ourselves up, and maybe forget Who is giving us the ability to pull ourselves up. Thanks!

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  8. Don't you love God's transparency in this verse, not if, but when? If not for the whens, though, we'don't never learn to trust. Praise God for His Word to prepare and comfort us. Thanks for the reminder.

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  9. I too love this verse in Isaiah. So comforting.

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  10. Laura,
    Thank you for this beautiful reminder to keep persevering. With perseverance comes God's promises of courage which eventually builds hope. With each trial I've come through it's built my certainty of God's faithfulness, which gives me courage, and in courage comes hope. Lovely.
    Blessings,
    Bev

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  11. Visiting from #chasingcommunity today, Laura. Thank you for this encouragement to persevere, as I'm looking for freelance opportunities.

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  12. Perseverance is a beautiful virtue...It is so needed. I like that you took some time today to discuss it here.
    Have a splendid new month.
    God Bless, Laura

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  13. What wonderful promises to remember this morning as I look at some white space on my calendar and take some time to process life. Thanks for sharing this at #PorchStories.

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  14. This reminds me of that Kari Jobe song-- I Am Not Alone :) Lovely reminder today of how the Lord is so gracious to us. Amen ♥

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    1. That is a beautiful song! One of my faves, too!

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  15. One of my favorite verses that really opened my eyes that it says WHEN not IF. This side of heaven life is never guaranteed to be easy or free from trouble, and yes we need to find ways to persevere. Thank you for linking up on #writerwednesday this week!

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  16. Once again you have managed to speak to ME today, and I so very much needed this encouragement today Laua! Thank you!

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