Few weeks ago, I filed my application for a public service administrative job. I expected I would know the result of my application soon but it turned out that the waiting period has been prolonged for three more months for some reason.
Initially, I was disconcerted for the reason that I wasn't expecting for that postponement. After being stationary for four years now, I certainly like to have a variation in location and new challenges. Nevertheless apparently, God still likes me to wait. The lessons of Admiral James Stockdale from their harrowing experiences during their imprisonment in Vietnam gave me the correct viewpoint during my own waiting time.
Admiral Stockdale was a president of the Naval War College. He spent eight years in Hanoi and was tortured a number of times by his captors.
The author Mr. Thomas Barnett relates:
"Stockdale tells the story of the optimists who never survived their time in Hanoi, simply because they clung far too much to their dreams of release and in doing so couldn't handle the brutal realities of what it took to survive the day to day.
"So instead of dealing with the here and now realistically, they tended to cling to the hope that they'd be home by whatever the next holiday was, and when that day came and went, their spirit would be diminished by that measure.
"Over time, they died because their spirit was extinguished by reality."
Stockdale's elaborates his "paradox" this way:
"You must never confuse faith that you will prevail in the end (which you can never afford to lose) with the discipline to confront the most brutal facts of your current reality, whatever they might be."
My pursuit for a high government assignment is a seemingly not viable goal. But I have experienced immeasurable unbelievable events in my existence therefore I don't have any doubt that God can achieve another miracle if that is in His will.
When Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego were about to be placed into a kiln for not wanting to adore an statue set up by king Nebuchadnezzar, they stated "O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. If we are thrown in the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it, and he will rescue us from your hand, O king. But even if he does not, we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up." Daniel 3:16-18
Valid faith is persevering until the end. God can save us from our current circumstance no matter how testing it is. And even if He doesn't, based on His sovereign will, He is dependable to reward us, if not here on earth then certainly in heaven.
Author Resource:
Greg Nemer invites business owners and internet entrepreneurs to his site Internet Business with Purpose. Accomplish your purpose in life through online entrepreneurship, value, financial integrity and lifestyle freedom!
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