Jan 29 (edited) • Faith-Driven Success Stories
Perseverance, Diligence, and Trust In Our Good Father
I recently left my job because it was prohibiting me from practicing real estate while employed there. I purchased some photography equipment and asked my nephew, who has a successful real estate photography business, to teach me the skill. My plan was to provide high quality real estate photos for Realtors as a way to support my family while I rebuilt my real estate business.
A local Realtor decided to give me a try. I told him I was new at this skill and offered to do it for free, hoping to hone the skill for future income opportunities. I was terrified. But I had decided that learning this new thing was going to serve me and my family well in the future. I gave this first photoshoot my all and poured myself into it as best I could. I had a mentor/teacher to help me along the way. The final product looked great!... so I thought. However, the client said they were not happy with the final product. This feedback was extremely valuable. But I did not see the value in it at first. I became discouraged and started thinking I should set aside this new skill development and not return to it. In other words I should quit.
This morning I was praying about this and asking The Lord to help me to see what I was not able to see for myself. I began to realize, with the help of the Holy Spirit, that I was responding to this feedback the way I often respond to early difficulties of new endeavors in my life. Instead of being grateful for honest feedback and striving to improve and build, I give up.
Ironically, the big thing the Lord has been teaching me in my life these past few years is that the world He created is a world of order and slow and steady building. It is not a world of fast results. Anything that is beautiful, anything that is good, anything that is worthy of honor and that is glorious was built or grown or developed over a long period of time, not suddenly. And just last night I was struggling with discouragement that as I look at my life at 43 years old, I have a hard time identifying many things in my life that I have built and sustained.
So as I was praying this morning about this new skill and what I should do, I decided first, I needed to be thankful. Thankful that I have the tools and equipment and opportunity to learn this valuable skill. Thankful that this man gave me a chance to perform this task for him, even though he knew I was new at it. Thankful that he was kind and courageous enough to offer me honest feedback so that I can know how to improve. Thankful. Thankful. Thankful.
A wise and wealthy brother I know once told me that they key to being wealthy (something I do not apologize is a goal of mine for the sake of others and my children) is to cultivate a heart of constant gratitude. In my immaturity at the time, I didn't understand what he meant. But I took his advice and have sought to apply it increasingly in my own life. There is much to unpack there about the importance of gratitude. But that is for another post.
So I have a newfound commitment to not quit the development of this skill, but instead to press in. To take advantage of every opportunity to grow and get better. This requires humility, something I often find that I lack, as well as honesty (which I suppose is another way of saying humility) about my current skill level and how to improve.
As I strive to learn the difficult but good lessons my good Father is teaching me through these trying times in my life, I take comfort in knowing my Father is good and faithful to keep His promises. He will sustain and care for us as we trust in Him and are faithful to be grateful and diligent to work hard for His glory.
(Attached are one of the photos I took for his listing.)
In other words....Don't give up! Keep going! Trust the Lord. Work hard.
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Perseverance, Diligence, and Trust In Our Good Father
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