He lacks no
eagerness in the learning department, that’s for sure.
In fact, our six year old son Kaleb has an inordinate fondness for home-school lessons and takes great pleasure in being taught new ideas.
Unlike him, when I was a little girl, I certainly wasn’t doing cartwheels over Math and English homework! But young Mr. Hobbs regularly breaks out into a combination of Olympic-style aerobics and fist-bumping, all while wearing a Kool-Aid smile when “learning time” arrives.
I always laugh when I see his tiny frame hopping around gleefully with reckless abandon.
During these moments, I silently hope and pray he’ll always keep that level of enthusiasm, at least inwardly, since it’s important that we all strive to be lifelong learners.
But when it comes to putting into practice the unfamiliar concepts presented to him, well, then things can get a bit tricky. What Kaleb has yet to understand is, just because you embrace an idea and “get it” upon hearing it, doesn’t mean that you will immediately be proficient in the application of it. Bottom line is some things that seem easy in theory can be pretty tough to apply in reality.
Because of that, quite often, our youngest son grows frustrated quickly.
I tell him, “It’s okay Buddy. Just be patient and you’ll get it.” But my reassuring words, though helpful in some ways, cannot completely neutralize the sting of disappointment.
“I can’t do it,” he’ll tell me with sad eyes from time to time, but my response is always the same. “Yes you can. You just have to keep trying.”
I completely understand his frustration.
Young or old, doesn’t life have a way of lying to us and telling us we can’t do all sorts of things?
Unfortunately, many gifted, anointed, and chosen individuals give up too soon. They do the opposite of what Galatians 6:9 says and allow themselves to “grow weary in well-doing.” They let their perceived failures, insufficiencies, and inadequacies get the best of them, and walk away from their destiny.
They begin making the negative “I can’t” confessions: can’t take the pain; can’t figure things out; can’t keep believing when nothing’s happening; can’t say I’m a winner when I feel like a loser; can’t keep it together when everything is falling apart; can’t see the bright side when things are dark and dreary.
But we can’t believe the untruths that negative circumstances whisper in our ears. Let’s not agree with depression, discouragement, defeat, and disillusionment.
When life tries to feed you the “I can’t do it” lie, fight back with your "Hebrews 11:1 faith" stored up on the inside of you. It fuels your confidence in what you "hope for" and provides assurance about what you can’t even see.
Genuine faith, though it is relentlessly tested, tried, and shaken, will never be defeated or destroyed. It will rise up like that legendary phoenix from the ashes and live on. When life tries to knock you down, your faith will empower you to soar above negative circumstances and fly over life’s deepest valleys.
When defeat whispers “No you can’t,” that confidence and assurance in God will rebut, “Yes, you can do this.”
I know trials are hard, but they are no match for genuine faith.
In fact, the word of God tells us tough times only reveal what we are made of and show us how real our faith is. Let me prove it to you by stirring 1 Peter 1:6-7a ESV into your cup of inspiration. It says, “You now rejoice in this hope, even if it’s necessary for you to be distressed for a short time by various trials. This is necessary so that your faith may be found genuine. (Your faith is more valuable than gold, which will be destroyed even though it is itself tested by fire.)”
When you drink down the contents of your cup you will see that the fact that you are still standing is a testament to your faith. With all you’ve been through, you could have walked away, given up, or lost your mind.
But you’re still here; still holding on; still believing; still moving forward; still trusting in God’s word; and still praising Him in the midst of tribulations.
Though you might have been shaken up by life, your confidence is strong because of what Philippians 1:6 says: "Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus."
Keep on standing my friend.
You can do this!
Now let's pray.
Father, please help me to place my confidence and assurance in You, even when everything around me seems to be going wrong. When I feel weary, discouraged, and heavy, by the power of Your Holy Spirit, empower me to believe, fight, and cling to my faith as never before. In the midnight hour of my life, oh God, remind me that Your hand will uphold me and Your word will stand forever. Let me never forget that no matter who or what fails or fades away in my life, Your word never will. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
As always, thanks for reading and until next time... may today's cup of inspiration uplift, encourage, and empower you!
If you need prayer, don't hesitate to request it. I would be honored to stand in faith with You. I know that prayer works. CLICK HERE to learn how to submit your prayer request.
