The Appeal of Sticking It Out by Percy

 I remember the first time we got out the draw knives to start peeling.

There was a bunch of us hacking away at some logs, around four guys a log.

I picked up a knife and before long found I was the only one remaining.

At first I'll admit it was pretty tormenting.

I wasn't just peeling a few logs.....I was peeling every log for a giant project (pretty much by myself).

So I spent the next days, weeks, and months peeling.

I'd go out, sit down on a log and peel. Then roll. Then peel. Then roll. Aaaand peel.

Every day I’d show up for work. All day long until seasons changed from fall into winter. Every day sitting on those logs and peeling.

But in the middle of it–in the trying of my patience and learning endurance–I began to see God.

Because I was getting stretched, it was putting me in a place where God could further use me. God began to deal with me on accountability and giving.

A young girl started coming to me to receive the word of the Lord while I worked. Pouring out her heart with an utter confidence that I could speak what God had for her.

I began praying to God to fill me, to give me the words to say to help meet her need. I felt accountable.

That accountability I felt to speak something real kept me out of my head.

Then I discovered I needed more and lot more, every day.

I began to see something I never saw before. Do you know how much we affect each other?

I saw how a simple act of care and giving could transform someone's life. And–not just their life. Oh no.

Everyone they interacted with. Even their future family and kids. Their kids’ kids. And kids’ kids’ kids!

Wow!!

And we make tons of those decisions every day!

That revelation deepened my burden and increased my desire to give to another level! It wasn’t about the job anymore at all.

I wanted to be used by God, but until I paid the price, God couldn’t use me.

Because that diligence and endurance wasn’t just for me. It wasn’t just character building. It was for others that God wanted to reach.

It was for that girl, or everyone else God put in my path.

Care deepened endurance, an endurance to keep on because of love.

Because love is for giving.