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2 Timothy 1:3-2:6

The following was given to me July 2, 2003 at a private conference with just the Lord, my Bible, pen and paper. It is given here exactly as I heard it.

When you follow the example of Onesiphorus who was persistent in finding Paul and ministering to him without shame, when you are strong in the grace of Jesus and in what you’ve been taught, and when you pass what you’ve been given on to others and begin a chain reaction, then “you therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.” (2 Timothy 2:3)

Hardship is caring. Hardship is knowing you have no power or ability to change anything yet knowing you have all power. Hardship is yearning for more. It is not doing. It is daring to be. Hardship is following orders even when you don’t understand. Hardship is being single-minded, refusing to be distracted. (vs.4) Hardship is following the rules, refusing to take short cuts or fudge the results. (vs.2:5) Hardship is enjoying the fruit of your hard labor even when others do not have. (vs. 6) Hardship is enjoying that meal, that table that I prepare and set before you in the presence of your enemies. (Psalm 23:5)

Hardship is not always a giving up or a struggle. Hardship is receiving what you need when you need it. What kind of soldier would refuse his daily ration or refuse his weapon or refuse to allow another to cover him when he is in the line of fire? Yet My people do this all the time. They refuse to eat My word daily as often as I offer it. They refuse My help and they refuse the help of people. Why? Because they choose the easy way. They are unwilling to endure hardship as a good soldier. Being a soldier means laying down your life for a cause or for another. Death to self. Death to pride. Death to comfort. Death to “no.” That’s why a soldier’s life is called hardship. But from My perspective, and from the perspective of a committed soldier, it is easy. It is light. It begins to feel “natural” for indeed it is natural. It is how I created man.