My life has been a struggle, trying to survive in a foreign land far away from those I knew as a child and adult. This struggle took a different turn, had a different meaning after I accepted my call to attend PTS. Initially I felt like I was lost in the wilderness, a sojourner in a foreign land. Nothing made sense to me. Matthew 7:7 was my anchor, knowing that God would comfort me and speak to me. Indeed God did; PTS has been my home for the last four years This was not exactly what I was hoping for when I prayed to God but God told me to run the race with perseverance.
The first few years of my seminary life, I felt that I was in the wilderness. Prayers, petitions and lamentations were my expressions to the Lord, “Out of the depths I cry to you, O Lord”. As I sought for God’s mercy, God taught me a lesson of humility. I learned to fully surrender to the Lord. I accepted to be the potter’s clay. He is the Creator and Sovereign God. My life and my future are in his hands. I trust and rely on Him in ALL things. After surrendering to the Lord, my life became more meaningful to me. I began to hear God’s voice more clearly through my study. The challenges I once saw as obstacles became opportunities for me to learn. I understood that the race I am running is a marathon. Like any marathon, I needed to be trained and equipped for the task. The training is hard; I need to have the endurance and perseverance to cross the finishing line.
As Christians, each one of us has to run our race and we will all face difficulties along the way. With perseverance we can resist the temptation to desist or turn aside before reaching the goal. We need to trust God in every circumstance and know that God is sovereign. We need to focus on our final destination which is the heavenly home God prepared for us and to live our life here as He taught us. We must always remember that salvation through Christ is our only guarantee to reach our ultimate goal. Our Heavenly Father is waiting for each one of us at the finish line; we will rest in God’s arms, will hear God whispering in our ears “a job well done. You’re my faithful servant.” Let’s keep our eyes fixed on Jesus as we run our race. I have been blessed to have the time to strengthen my relationship with the Lord while at PTS; I pray that you, my colleagues, brothers and sisters in Christ, will experience this same joy. May you wait upon the Lord patiently so you will mount up your wings like an eagle in God’s time.
To God be the glory.
Written by Minh Towner, Senior MDiv student at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary