James 1:2-4 2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters,[a] whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. 4 Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

I sit here thinking, ” How did I get here? How did I get to this point?” Not just today but all last month was all that I kept saying to myself and also the reason I skipped a month to post a blog. Beginning this week in my prayer time I could hear God tell me, “Your resilient!” That’s where I say, ” how did I get to this point, where I pray, and can clearly hear him say “You’re resilient!” and because I feel like there is too much going on in my head or I’m like the disciples on the boat in the storm and I just want to get off, that I still chose to not believe that word could even describe me. I even know what the word means, and I still wanted to look it up. Resilient: (a person or animal) able to withstand or recover quickly from difficult situations or conditions.

How did I get here? How did I get to this point?

This point is me allowing the lies of the enemy getting me to dismiss a characteristic trait that God gave me and in my prayer time to top it off. One day this week I was even thinking of sending out a text to my pastor, my best friend, my niece, my sons, and my sister asking them if they thought I was resilient. I ended up not because I thought, “they will all probably just say yes.”

How did I get here? How did I get to this point?

This point where I needed to hear the opinion of another person, when God clearly gave me the word in my prayer time? How did I get here? How did I get to this point are phrases I’ve played over and over in my head for quite some time and as I type this blog out I think why have I allowed the enemy to keep me here the entire month last month and creeping into this month? Maybe you were led to read this blog because someone you know read it and thought it would encourage you and I praise God if you are encouraged. Maybe you have been feeling like you been beat down and dragged so far down that there is no possible way of getting up as you endure yet another trial, battle, or struggle. As I was encouraged to write this for myself, I felt there maybe someone out there feeling the same way and need to read that they aren’t the only one and that there is hope and that we have a God walks every step with you. Those thoughts that creep in telling you, “QUIT!” “YOU CAN’T!” ” YOU’RE DONE!” I’m here to say, ” KEEP GOING!” YOU’RE NOT DONE!” and “YOU CAN” I don’t know your trial or struggle but God does and I can testify, he does help you through it all. Will you let him?

Each of the many trials you have faced or will face has grown you in ways you never thought possible and has made you stronger in areas you never thought you could be strong. You are resilient! You have persevered! Your faith has been tested time and time again as the enemy hopes to destroy you, your promise, your legacy, and the calling over your life. Maybe you have been feeling completely drained, exhausted and at the end of your rope but I remind you as long as it is God at the end of that rope, you will continue to grow and get so much stronger and closer to “THE ONE” that has been with you every step of the way. Will we fall short, sure we all do but we make it a point to get back up and keep fighting the fight. Know that the enemy has strategized long and hard to test your faith in hopes of TRYING to get you to quit. The last thing that lying devil wanted was for you to believe that you are resilient and could persevere despite the battles trying to destroy you. But know that what the enemy meant for evil God turns to good. Genesis 50:20 – ²⁰ You intended to harm me, but God intended it all for good. He brought me to this position so I could save the lives of many people.  Your testimony may be the very one someone needs to hear to turn from what they saw as destruction to walk toward the hope we find in Christ. Take a moment to realize, you did keep walking, you are still standing even after every hit and punch made to knock you out, you still got up!

Know that you are set apart and you can keep going and walking toward your promise and victory. Realize that God is about to take you to that next level because if you’re anything like me, you forget that it is what you been praying for and he is simply answering your prayer by growing your faith in him and strengthening you for the process you are going through. He created you to be resilient and to persevere and through Christ you can do all things as it says in Philippians 4:13.

If you take anything with you from reading this, I pray it is that:

YOU CAN!