Beyond Religion - The Fruit of Endurance Part 1

It’s been two months since the release of my first book, Beyond Religion: Creating Intimacy with The Most High. To date, this has been the singular most important work of my life. As with any spiritual assignment, it has not come without much warfare. The attacks have been physical, mental, emotional and even material. These poison laced fiery arrows were meant to be lethal upon contact. To my pleasant surprise, upon reaching their intended target, the effect has been more like a persistent dull headache. Nothing extremely painful but just enough to cause frustration, distraction, and enough overall discomfort that requires a deeper measure of perseverance. 

Enter endurance. That is what this phase of this season is about. There is a saying that refers to “death by 1000 papercuts” whereas it’s a bunch of little things that eventually wear you down leading to your demise. In fairness to my loved ones, at the moment I am facing a particular issue that does not seem little to them at all. Yet when you have the Most High backing you, your problems become His and every issue is slight work for Him. 

From there, perspective and faith play a pivotal role. We know that while Yah does not cause everything, He allows certain things. And if He allows it then the question becomes why? Not in a victim sense, but rather, what am I supposed to learn from this ordeal? What aspects of my character, for better or worse, is this exposing? What refining work is being done in me and what is it preparing me for? 

As we wrestle with these questions, even in the midst of enduring, faith is what propels us forward. Not the type of blind faith that comes from reading a promise in scripture and claiming it for our lives whether it’s applicable or not. I’m referring to faith that comes from having received a direct word from the Father about our specific situation and knowing that it will come to pass because He would not lie. 

Nevertheless, it can be maddening to have foreknowledge of an outcome with complete certainty when your present reality does not reflect as such. There will also be seemingly unrelated opposition that we face, that is meant to wear us out and push us over the edge. It can be something so miniscule as breaking a glass that you now have to clean up when you’re already stressed and pressed for time. On the more intense end, it could look like facing a health condition that causes major disruption when equally important matters also require your effort. It is when the pressure is building and there is little to no relief because things that would bring even a temporary sweet escape are somehow out of reach. At that point all we can do is stand. 

Everyone’s stand looks different - so please let us not look to the left or the right. But I want to encourage anyone reading this to stay the course on your way to what has been promised to you. Do not focus on what you appear to be losing or missing out on as you remain focused on your race. Your Heavenly Father is a restorer and even able to redeem time. Know that two steps forward and one step back is still progress. It’s slow, frustrating, annoying and painful but you will get there.

Some days I feel like I’m failing, and while that may be true in some aspect, it is not true for the whole of me. In church they used to say, “I may lose the battle but I’ve already won the war.” So, I may not have not gotten in the prayer, workout, or writing session that I wanted for the day but I was able to make time for a loved one who needed a listening ear or encouragement. Perhaps I made a bad food choice but I was able to be generous to someone who was hungry and didn’t have much of a choice to begin with. I may not have responded to someone with the best tone, but I’m mindful of it for the rest of the day enabling me to ensure that my future interactions reflect patience and consideration. And some days there are just no redeeming moments. Which is okay, not because it’s a good thing, but because it’s life. There are days when we’ll just have to Kanye shrug, pull our eye-mask down and find temporary respite in sleep until, by Yah’s grace, we awake to a day full of new mercies.

This is not an invitation to negate how we are called to show up for ourselves or others. I’m in constant prayer regarding wisdom, consistency, self-control, etc. with the intention of having a better day than the one before. However, there is a certain surrender to grace that I believe is key to enduring. It is the awareness of one’s weaknesses that informs us that there is no way we’re going to make it through without the grace of the Most High. I’m starting to believe that is the point of it all. Or at least one very salient one. 

For more on endurance click here to read Part 2 on my Substack. Also, be sure to check back for updates on the new happenings at Dynasty Life. I’ll be starting a series on “Holy Communication” that I can’t wait to share with you. It has nothing to do with profanity :-)

Until next time, shalom.

-CC

Scripture References for Reflection

• Ephesians 6:13 

• Jeremiah 32:27

• Joel 2:25

• John 10:5, 10:27