Be strong and bold; have no fear or dread of them, because it is the Lord your God who goes before you.
He will be with you; he will not fail you or forsake you.
In those moments, those weeks, those months when life appears to conspire against us as if to suggest that we are being punished for our imagined offences there is an awareness that in our moments of reflection, our inner voice asks us to remain patient encouraging us that our growing strength develops our resilience when we resist the temptation to surrender to our fear that we cannot cope.
2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. 4 Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. - James 1
The experienced traveller covered in scars teaches us that when misfortune attempts to crush our forbearance, remain present in the moment that we may celebrate all that befalls us, knowing that our greatest friend shepherds us through all of life's storms when choosing to follow His wise guidance whispered to us in the silence of our heart.
My son, if thou come to serve the Lord, prepare thy soul for temptation.
Set thy heart aright, and constantly endure, and make not haste in time of trouble.
Cleave unto him, and depart not away, that thou mayest be increased at thy last end.
Whatsoever is brought upon thee take cheerfully, and be patient when thou art changed to a low estate.
For gold is tried in the fire, and acceptable men in the furnace of adversity.
Believe in him, and he will help thee; order thy way aright, and trust in him.
~ Sirach 2:1-6
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