When we're struggling, it's good to remember that we're surrounded by a "great cloud of witnesses" who've gone before us in our race of faith. Their lives are examples, helping us stay focused on Christ (Hebrews 12:1-3).
We have scriptural examples, like Joseph, Paul, and Tabitha,* but we also have examples here and now.
My friend Ginny is a full-time caregiver to her elderly mom and disabled husband. She doesn't deny her challenges. But you can’t talk to her for long before she tells you how blessed she is. (See When Hardship Is a Privilege.)
I have a friend whose childhood was marred by sexual abuse, but she’s a positive, prayer-focused woman who loves talking about things of God.
In the early 2000s, I met Father Placid who had been imprisoned in a Russian gulag for his faith. His joyful smile and kindness lit up every room he entered. (See He Developed a Curriculum of Survival.)
My friend Linda is widowed and she deals with persistent health problems, but she joyfully shares Christ with telemarketers, waitresses, friends, and neighbors…everyone she meets!
My friend Cathy and her husband Glen have been missionaries in Suriname for over forty years, living without luxuries like air conditioning in the jungle heat. But they are grateful for their opportunities to share Christ.
Please consider the godly examples in your life, and if you don't have any, I encourage you to read some good Christian biographies.
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* Here are some one-minute glimpses that will encourage your faith:
Joseph: Keep on Keeping On
Paul: Paul's Boast
And these are illustrations of the kinds of examples we can have in our lives:
BLN
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