And therefore we also having so great a cloud of witnesses over our head, laying aside every weight and sin which surrounds us, let us run by patience to the fight proposed to us: Looking on Jesus, the author and finisher of faith, who having joy set before him, endured the cross, despising the shame, and now sitteth on the right hand of the throne of God. -- Hebrews 12:1-2 (Douay-Rheims)
Every day there is a stress of one kind of another -- sometimes many! Every day there is a challenge to maintain your center/your calm/your patience. Every day there is a point that you must pull up the reins on yourself and look at what your faith requires of you. In the calm center, taking in a breath, we should lay aside all that troubles and all that weighs us down. Just set it down and discern the huge cloud of witnesses who also struggled through life -- many with the same problems and issues that are meeting you. Feel them cheering you on? You might say, "No. I don't know how to keep doing this." Consider that you have been placed where you are because you are the best person for that place. It is the place for the "fight proposed to (you)." Know this: you likely will only receive the courage to continue by looking to Jesus. You might have gotten yourself into this jam you're facing, but faith is going to get you out. You have to see further, reach further, hear further than the situation before you -- to someone, like Jesus. Like Jesus, you have to look to the joy that comes after you've endured, after you have put aside shame, after you've let worry dissipate. Breath deeply. The cloud of witnesses, Jesus too, went ahead of you. What they did, they give back to you... strength to carry on the struggles.
Prayer:
Lord, whatever is troubling, whatever is a burden, whatever is weighing me down I know you know. Have mercy on me. Help me run with patience and endurance this fight you share with me. Amen.
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