What if the situations we've been battling aren't what they seem?

Prolonged seasons of burnout and hardship can sometimes make us see through fear's lens, focusing on the negative possibilities, or through defeat's lens, feeling like it's over and we blew it. But what if those are lies, just bluffs from the enemy, meant to stifle us?

Jesus also went through opposition, betrayal, misunderstandings, and rejection. Yet He played it cool with patient self control, and He wants us to develop the same kind of grit.

The Bible calls it divine forbearance, calling us to look beyond what's wrong and trust Him to bring things right as we persevere in the toughest circumstances. When we do that, we start seeing through victory's lens: We abide, watch it play out, and resist knee-jerk reactions. We make deliberate moves, confident that the Lord is at work and giving us the wisdom we need.

He is breathing on our blackened coals with truth and love that relights us, creating a fire that won't be quenched.