Trusting God When Fortitude Fails You

Finding Peace in the Presence of God

The word Fortitude as defined by Webster’s is: strength of mind that enables a person to encounter danger or bear pain or adversity with courage. Fortitude isn’t bad. We want to be strong and face obstacles courageously. With so many hardships in life it is good to get through them and still be standing.

Two Bible verses come to mind when I reflect on this.

“Therefore put on the full amour of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand” Ephesians 6:13 NIV

“Be on guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong” 1 Corinthians 16:13 NIV

I have spent a large amount of my life knowing God and yet falling back to my own strength to get me through tough times. I have many experiences that I look back on and can’t believe I even made it through. (One day there will be a book 😉) I know my Heavenly Father was always with me. It was me who kept trying without Him. I would find my strength and with fortitude I would press on towards victory. But without God I often felt defeated. Many times I felt like I was just going through the motions of life. Doing, saying, and living a fabricated strength.

God has told us there will be days of evil and we are to stand our ground. But, He tells us that we will stand with His protection and guidance.

Stand firm in the faith. It has taken me so long to accept this truth. God is not impressed with my work, my way, my strength . He wants us to go to Him. He wants us to ask Him. He wants us to trust Him.

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ginajamespaul

I love God and am loved by Him. I am a wife, mother and writer. I have spent most of my life keeping God at a distance. Of course He was always with me. In a world where we may feel we can never measure up, God tells us we are wonderfully and fearfully made. I had so much guilt and shame from a traumatic childhood experience. The trauma became greater when I told a trusted adult who did not believe my story. Guilt and shame left me feeling unworthy. I felt that I was nothing more than a sinner. I tried to live “right” but found it easier to just accept who I thought I would always be. Giving my life to Jesus gave me freedom but I held on to my old beliefs far too long. I hope to encourage others to seek God in all things and trust in Him and not in this world. The sins of others and your own sins do not define you. Accept God’s gift of grace through Jesus, who is Grace. “For sin shall not be master over you, for you are not under law but under grace.” Romans 6:14 TLV

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About Me

I love God who loves me. I am a wife and mother. I have spent most of my life keeping God at a distance. Of course He was always right here with me. In a world where we may feel we can never measure up, God tells us “we are fearfully and wonderfully made”. I had so much guilt and shame that I developed from a childhood experience. Because of my guilt and shame I often felt unworthy and sinful. I often tried to do the “ right thing”, but I found it easier to just accept who I thought I was and would always be. Giving my life to Jesus gave me freedom but I held on to my old beliefs far too long. I hope to encourage others to seek God in all things and trust in Him and not the world.
“ For sin will not have authority over you; because you are not under legalism but under grace.” Romans 6:14 CJB

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