We sat around in the choir room on the last Sunday of 2012; chairs formed together in a circle. We sat as equals all for one purpose. Our heads were bowed and our hearts were humbled. It was after service one Sunday; 12pm on the dot. We as young people devoted part of our afternoon to prayer; for our nation, for our governor, for our governing officials, for the world that we are growing up in. We poured out our hearts and our desires for revivals. We prayed for those leaders who desperately need a Savior. We prayed with passion for God to give us wisdom in the years to come. There are many days where I fear what this world will come to. I fear I will grow up fighting against much more than we do today. I fear I will be alone in the battle for my beliefs, for my morals, for my family, and for my homeschooling rights. But sitting there with fellow young adult believers I knew God had sent me encouragement. He had placed me in the right place where He wanted me at the right time. {I.love.when.He.does.that.} Then I began to think about the life of Jeremiah. How he was all alone fighting for the Word of God; fighting against non-believers. How he was throw in a pit and despised. How he felt all alone in that great battle. I always thought of him as a whiner; always crying out to God for the trials he faced. But the Lord was with him, he persevered. He didn't need God to send him people; he had the Lord, and that was enough. And the Lord blessed him and kept His promise. "This is the word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord: 2 “This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: ‘Write in a book all the words I have spoken to you. 3 The days are coming,’ declares the Lord, ‘when I will bring my people Israel and Judah back from captivity and restore them to the land I gave their ancestors to possess,’ says the Lord.”{Jeremiah 30:1-3}
Then I thought of what a whiner I was being. And how I proudly looked at Jeremiah's life; not knowing that I was doing that same thing. {whining.worrying.crying out in fear.} And here I am living with a group of like-minded believers right before my eyes and I still felt alone. Here I was sitting in a circle praying, and I still felt scared. I felt guilty for doubting God. I felt ashamed and unworthy to be blessed with these people. God didn't have to provide encouragement for me; but He did, and at that moment I felt the peace of the Lord upon me. I sighed and whispered a prayer of thanksgiving. How could I overlook such a big blessing? It just goes to show what a merciful and awesome God we serve! I fall and He picks me up. We are all fighting for one purpose; to bring glory to our Heavenly Father. Whether we have people around us or not, let us not give up in this fight. Let us not grow weary. Let us not lose hope.
"In God I have put my trust, I shall not be afraid.
What can man do to me?" {Psalm 56:11}
"Let us run with endurance the race before us....."
