Working for the Long Goal

Winston Churchill warned Europe that Hitler was a threat to the continent at least , but people ignored him . And then , when the Nazis turned violent , the people turned to Churchill as their prime minister . Having led the country through another costly war to preserve freedom , churchill was defeated for re-election in the last days of World War II .

It's like the people had forgotten his priceless contribution to world peace . He knew the war would take a long time and that it would be costly , and the people wanted to avoid thinking about it and , even later , wanted it over quickly . And that's rarely how life works .

Churchill returned as prime minister in the 1950s , but his experiences show that people mostly want short-term solutions . Working for the long goal is rarely popular . Jeremiah 1515 says Lord , you understand , remember me and care for me . Avenge me on my persecutors . You are long suffering . Do not take me away . Think of how I suffer , reproach for your sake .

Here God is reminding us that often we're required to stay in it for the long haul . Nowhere is this more true than in the pursuits of peace and contentment . That kind of thing is just . It's not built quickly , and not surprisingly , too many people don't stay with it and they stumble along looking for solutions in the wrong places .

If you're in a bad place today , you're going to have to start with basic steps . Talk to Jesus and tell him you're struggling . Maybe you have a vague sense of depression and just can't locate the direct cause . Take the example of people who did understand the source of true happiness and were committed to seeing it through , no matter how long it took .

Abraham knew the value of prayer and he waited for decades to have a son . Hannah was also unable to have children , but she prayed and stayed faithful . Eventually , god gave her a child and she felt fulfilled . Joseph spent years in exile and prison because of his brother's actions , but his faith didn't waver .

He actually found his contentment in the middle of these trials and eventually God restored his family and all he had lost . If you're depressed or ground down from money worries or facing some other huge challenge , go to God right now and tell him you need peace for your soul .

Tell him you fully trust him and will wait with as much patience and faith as you can . It's then you start the clock ticking on your difficult circumstances and while you wait , your heart will be at rest . Let's pray , father , thank you for the good gifts that we already have . Help us be grateful for those things that sustain life .

We fully trust you to bring about our delivery from life's circumstances precisely the moment you have chosen .