Enduring Hardness Like a Good Soldier

Greetings sisters in Christ!

Thank the Lord for this day and let us all be content with our lot in life.  I often hear brother Jim say that to men he councils, encouraging them to be content in their lot in life.  We see in the book of 1 Corinthians 12 how there are many parts of the body with various callings in their life, we certainly see that don't we sisters?  We all are in different parts of the world, doing different things (some things similar to others) yet we are all of the same body.  We all have struggles in our flesh in the life that God has called us, not one has the perfect life and won't until we enter heaven.  It could be easy to look at someone else's life and long for that instead of what we have, but that's sinful to do isn't it?  (And quite frankly, we don't know all the details and if we did, we might not want that life after all and think the one we have is pretty good.)  ​

I wanted to write about enduring hardness like a good soldier because there are times I wonder about how I am, somewhat bold.  I don't sugar coat anything, I don't 'not say' something because they might not like it, I stand on the word and won't associate with anyone claiming Christ that is in sin, I will inform a sister if she has sin and I expect her to do the same for me.  I am kind and loving but I just say it like it is and of course, it's not 'me' that the person gets upset at, it's the message. I've gotten tough skin over the years (and that only comes by going through trails, not trying to get out of them) and I have to check myself to make sure my heart is right when I say whatever it is I say. Satan can come in and make you think you're mean and hard or cold but the word of God is just that to the person who's rejecting it but it's love and life to those of us who want it, amen?  I thought this would be a good topic to help toughen myself and you sisters up.  No, I don't mean that we need to become a feminist or cold hearted, we just need to learn how to 'PUSH THROUGH' tough times instead of trying to run and hide from them.  What keeps us from doing that is fear, pride, double mindedness, not trusting in God, not being content, not being thankful, not focusing on what we should and instead having a pity party over ourselves.  
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It doesn't matter what your situation is, if we are truly a daughter of the most High, we must BEAT our flesh into submission as Paul says.  That flesh for women is usually emotions and using the excuse that "I'm a woman, I'm of the weaker vessel."  Okay, the bible says that but it's referring to how a husband deals with his wife.  That doesn't mean women can't become as bold and strong on the word, trusting in our Father just as much as a man, making her fearless (or as much as possible) willing to face death and torture without wincing.  Doesn't our Father's Word say that in our weakness He is strong?

When I see the women of the the bible, I see strength as they had to endure much hardness as a good soldier of God.  I don't see them huddled in the corner, hiding from the world, I see them boldly doing what they must do in life, trusting in our Father to watch over them.  Read 1 Peter 3 how it says Sarah trusted in God.  Imagine the life she led, I'm sure she would have rather sit on a homestead and lead a quiet life:-)  Esther had to give her life over to a man / king; not of her own will.  There were many women who traveled with Jesus and the disciples and they had to endure much as well.  (We also see Paul praising the women who labored in the Word with him.  Those days were much harder than today.)  Let's also not forget all the sisters who died at the hands of the wicked ones against the truth, and in order to be killed as a disciple of Christ, they had to have a bold enough witness that others knew about, amen?  They really had to be tough, and bold to get through that life and they did it all in their flesh.  Today we have the Holy Spirit, if we truly are His, and we have absolutely no excuse.

This life most of us live is rather soft.  Actually, if you're reading this then I can guarantee that your life is pretty good otherwise you wouldn't have the means to get on the internet or the time to read such things.  So it's safe to say that we all have a relatively decent life, not rotting in jail, not being tortured, not living in a gutter or under a bridge.  So when we do have a hardship to go through, who are we to complain when most of our life is cushy compared to those before us who died in the name of Christ.  Who are we to complain if God has us in a situation that we don't like?  Obviously He wants us there or we'd be somewhere else. Amen?  He wanted His Son on the cross to suffer and it pleased Him that His will be done.  Go read Isaiah 53 and then tell God that you don't like this life.  Go read Luke 22:42 the Savior of the world, Jesus, turning over His will for the Father and after that, tell God you don't want to do what you have to do for Him.  

Women today are too soft and self centered.  I don't know about you and I'm not pinpointing anyone directly, just a generalization of women that I've seen and in myself as a babe in Christ and at times throughout my spiritual life.  No, it doesn't come over night, it comes through diligence, facing trials head on with a great trust in the Father to get us through, pushing through and not running away.  Women say they want to see godly strong men in the world but they, themselves are not willing to be strong supporters.  A weak woman will weaken a man, have you thought of that?  I have.  If I'm weak and we go out on the streets to witness, I weaken my husband because he's now worried about me.  I have to be strong and bold enough to stand right by his side in the midst of the trouble and hatred.  I have to stand unflinching when men get in our faces and scream obscenities at us (nope, when people hate the word of God, there is no partiality.  They could care less if you are a woman or man, they hate you both.) If you don't have a husband, you may have to be strong because you will need to support and live by yourself.  The women in the bible had to do the same, working to support themselves so why would we think any different today?  In fact, there are many more opportunities for women to do that now than there was back then so it's easier.  (Not easy, but easier.  I know because I've had to do it in my former life before Christ, how much better when you have the Holy Spirit to help you!)  Some women may have been converted while in jail, imagine how strong you have to be there. God used women in mighty ways, who's to say He can't use us, but we must learn how to kill that emotional flesh, learn how to toughen up in the Word so we can stand strong in this life.  God allows trials in our life to strengthen us through Him.  It makes us lean on Him and He becomes our strength, and then we can get through anything victoriously!  As our Savior said in John 16:33, be of good cheer as He has overcome the world!

When you have trials in your life,  remember:
Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. (2 Timothy 2:3)

I take that as a command. Read Ephesians 6, we are all in a spiritual battle, not just the men, but us women are too.  We are all scattered around the world where God has us, shining our lights to those He has involved with us and we must all stand where we are, in boldness, enduring hardness like a good soldier.

Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: [9] Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world. (1 Peter 5:8-9)

See, He even gave us comfort by telling us that brethren in the world are suffering the same things.  I'm not diminishing pain and hardships, we all have them and we can all be weak at times but we have to work hard to make it a daily effort of strengthening ourselves.  Over time it will eliminate many of our weaknesses, I'm living proof of it and by the power of God, you can be too!  If not, then you have a different God than I do because He says we can overcome all things through Christ, doesn't He?

A soldier doesn't get strong by quietly sitting in the back during boot camp.  They push hard through the trials and on the other side they are valiant, ready to go fight for victory.  Let us sisters be as such, pushing through boldly with the strength of God, saying 'Bring it on, I can do your will through you Father.'

This life isn't about us and our desires, it's about God's will and what He wants accomplished through us.  Yes, He is a loving Father, but that loving Father also puts us through many trials (see Jesus, the disciples and all the martyrs before us), some of which may take our life, make us poor, cold hungry or in jail.  Just because we live in a world of freedom (well, most of us has many freedoms), doesn't mean it won't come crashing down in a second and all we've known in this life of ease will be gone, with hardship replacing it.  Are we ready sisters?  Do we trust in our Father that if he wanted us to suffer brutally on a cross, or have our heads cut off or die in prison, that we would do that for Him, knowing that whatever is being accomplished through it, is His will?  If you will do that for Him, than what we go through now is nothing in comparison...feel free to correct me if I'm wrong.  

We don't want to be soft, not fully trusting in God.  We can be good soldiers who knows how to endure hardship by pressing through with the power of the Holy Spirit. Our day is coming, and if we endure through, we shall obtain the prize.  

Yes, there are many times brother James and I would rather toss this all aside and go hide in the woods instead of being out here facing down evil.  We'd rather take a hammer and SMASH (did I say smash:-) our phones and chromebooks and dump technology all together instead of spending so much time online ministry and dealing with all the cyber haters. We work hard to quickly kill those selfish thoughts and go back to being about the things of God, pressing on and encouraging the saints.  

I pray this encourages you to march on sisters and face, head on, whatever God brings in your life.  Shine that light, all over the world and trust in Him that His will be done.  You never know the impact you have on those around you as it may be to the saving of their soul!!!!!
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We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers; [3] Remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labour of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our Father (1 Thessalonians 1:2-3)

Love in Christ,
Sister Deb