Hold Fast, Stay True

Sticking to your guns isn’t easy. It is easy however to talk a big game about how you’ll do this, that, and the other thing, but when the green light comes on, the door to the plane opens up, and it’s your time to jump, your go-get-it-by-any-means-necessary attitude quickly disappears and you forget you had it in the first place.

This I know personally. At the end of my last job I was working 70 to 80 hours a week as well as driving 1 hour each way. My health had deteriorated to the point that I could not sleep a full night’s rest as I would wake up in pain. There needed to be an immediate change, but nothing was lined up to provide for my new wife. I saw my parents’ faith growing up, and how they relied on the Lord’s provision. Now facing my test of faith, I mustered all the courage I had and turned in my notice with shaking hands.

Beliefs, Words, Actions

You know what you believe, or at least what you say you believe. But is that who you are? Are you merely what you believe or say what you believe? Certainly not.

Authenticity is at the crossroads of what you believe, what you say, and what you do. Where these three meet, there lies your convictions. The problem is more often than not with our actions; getting them to come into alignment is the hardest battle.

But if your actions do not align with what you say and believe, then what are you? You know the answer already, but what do you do? It is simple, but you have to act even when it’s hard. When it’s time to jump, you still jump. When it’s time to trust in the Lord, you trust in the Lord.

You act despite the strong fears and doubts, otherwise you are a fraud. When a belief is held and words have been spoken, then action can longer remain in its comfortable chair on the plane, it has to jump.

So be on guard not to hold to small, frivolous beliefs and speak cheap words, nor become delusional and brag so that an infinite chasm is formed between your mouth and your hand. The agreement of your beliefs, your words, and your actions is everything. This is integrity, and without it, you are nothing.

Convictions, Consequences, and Rewards

But what happens when you hold fast to your convictions? Many things could happen, but not all of them are good. There may come a time when you are called to dress for action like a man and the whole world is against, but stand there as a spectacle, as a gem, and say, “But I am still right.”

Convictions are costly, but consider the price of inaction. What if you cowered, and took their jeering as truth? The thing you may lose is yourself. If you keep to your convictions, friends, family, money, and reputation may leave but you will remain, which is the only thing that matters in the end.

But cynicism does not always have the final say. When I was tested to trust in the Lord, it was not easy and I did not do everything perfectly, however I still acted in faith that He would provide. And He did.

It took several months, but I got a job making 40% more money, it is 1% the distance of my previous job, and I get to walk to work. Before, during, and after this period the Lord provided. Trusting in Him has never cost me anything.

Hold fast, stay true. Keeping your integrity is a high prize in this life, and who knows, sticking to your convictions may cause you to get more than you could have imagined.