Strong versus faithful.....

Strong versus faithful.... 2 Thessalonians 2:13-17New International Version (NIV) Stand Firm 13 But we ought always to thank God for you, brothers and sisters loved by the Lord, because God chose you as firstfruits to be saved through the sanctifying work of the Spirit and through belief in the truth. 14 He called you to this through our gospel, that you might share in the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. 15 So then, brothers and sisters, stand firm and hold fast to the teachings we passed on to you,whether by word of mouth or by letter. 16 May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, 17 encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word... These verses resonated in my head this morning....and then the Jesus Calling confirmed .... These past few years have held life and death...for many whom I know and have had in my home, I in theirs, conversations, life experiences, my own family, life.... We have lost and gained, we have changed, we have grown...no lessons in the books would have taught everything we need to know about lost spouses, parents, friends, cancer, dying, losing, gaining...strength, faithfulness, leaning, quietness, loneliness, independence, closeness.....we each experienced them firsthand, whether we really wanted those lessons or not...we can't answer the questions why....it just is in God's choosing ... I look around and see that growth...oh, there are still tears, there always will be....the pain is not gone, but lessened...but I see God working in lives, strengthening them, building them up...because they have been faithful.... We are exhorted to stand firm, hold fast, be encouraged and strengthened...gain ETERNAL encouragement from Jesus and God our Father who loved us...to share in the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ ... .... Thank YOU for holding us firm, helping us stand, strengthening through your strength and not our own...help us to be faithful.... November 2 Jesus calling - Grow strong in the Light of My Presence. Your weakness does not repel Me. On the contrary, it attracts My Power, which is always available to flow into a yielded heart. Do not condemn yourself for your constant need of help. Instead, come to Me with your gaping neediness; let the Light of My Love fill you. A yielded heart does not whine or rebel when the going gets rough. It musters the courage to thank Me even during hard times. Yielding yourself to My will is ultimately an act of trust. In quietness and trust is your strength. The Lord is gracious and righteous; our God is full of compassion. The Lordprotects the simplehearted; when I was in great need, he saved me. Be at rest once more, O my soul, for the Lord has been good to you. —Psalm 116:5–7 Always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. —Ephesians 5:20 This is what the Sovereign Lord, the Holy One of Israel, says: “In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength, but you would have none of it.” —Isaiah 30:15