Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of
witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us
down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with
endurance the race God has set before us. – Hebrews 12:1 (NLT)
Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly; I
do not fight like a boxer beating the air.
-1 Corinthians 9:26 (NLT)
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| Photo Credit |
Since being demoted to a Per Diem position after many years
of working full time and through job-sharing, I haven’t felt this much sadness
of how supposedly, a government agency was to fight for me but didn’t. Never
investigated. Perhaps, never even touched the many evidences I had sent by
mail. Through a tough time, I never had a hard time of trusting God because He
had shown me many times of how truly He was there going along this trial with
me. I was sure what appeared as a mountain to overcome was nothing for Him.
There was no option for me but to love Him even more and
continue to thank Him, as He made me more aware of what things have true,
lasting values. The eternal kind…The ones that moths wouldn't be able to destroy. Not even the rust...
He turned this trial into an advantage for my part. The
staffing issues at my work...In the beginning, seemed like the people in
higher positions were doing a great job. Proud at what they had accomplished,
now seemed to have fallen apart. We have 4 facilities needing nurses. Many applied.
Many passed the interviews. But not one had passed the “background checks” that
I had heard of. And the current, few nurses working were getting "burned out".
My request to remain working “part time” was denied from the
start. A few people in higher positions
knew they had nothing against me. But as
the need for extra nurses arose, they kept calling me. The position they gave
me became a secure ground where they couldn’t force me anymore to do what they want.
They couldn’t force me to work on shifts I didn’t like. They couldn’t force me
to work more hours that I didn’t want to. I knew…it was God’s plan…
But working lesser, I had fewer days of interacting with
inmates. I had lesser encounters to write about in my blog. But some of the
events didn’t need to be told. They were just meant to be kept in my heart. The
hours added to my hands at home enabled me to help my friend who was in need.
Aside from my own family.
The spiritual enemy of course, never stops trying to steal
the joy in my heart. Many times, he accuses me of “not being an effective
soldier of Christ” anymore. Many times, he reminds me “I am a failure”. But by
the grace of God, it is His Word that rings louder and always speaks of truth.
It is His Word that tells me that ONE DOES NOT NEED A PRESTIGIOUS POSITION OR
TITLE TO DO A SIGNIFICANT ROLE . It is His Word that reminds me to run the race
not to win FIRST PLACE, but to finish it despite the hurdles along the way.
Because the one who finishes will not always be the strongest. Nor the fastest.
Nor the wisest. The one who finishes is the one who learns to endure no matter
how tough the bumps are on the road. The one who never veers to the left nor to
the right but just keeps running straight. The one who fixes his or her eyes
upon Jesus…Always…
May I ask for you to pray for a close friend of mine going
through a tough time, for the Lord to heal her fractured foot and for her mom’s
healing also? His provisions over them and protection. Thank you dearest
friends and keep running the race…looking straight, fixed on Jesus…And that’s
what gives us strength many times…The bumps on the road help us learn to
endure. The bumps help us see which one has true values as our souls war
against our fleshly needs in this race. To know we are all running together is
already a big encouragement. To realize that we are not running alone…
