Dear Precious Friends,
On this beautiful new day, this gift from God, we thank Him for another day, seek Him first and through the Holy Spirit we stand strong in Him. How do we do this in this time of difficulty knowing we are called to be the light?. We turn to the truth of God's word for help. Despite real challenges, disappointments, and struggles, Paul offers hope as he acknowledges suffering. “BUT” he says…
We are hard pressed on every side—yes real troubles coming from all directions, but not crushed.
Perplexed—no clear path or course of action or solution in sight, but no cause for despair.
Persecuted—unjustified personal attacks but not abandoned or left alone…
Struck down—a blow that knocks us down, not out, but we’re not destroyed.
Our enemy pursues us: “Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour, (1 Peter 5:8 NIV) seeking to discourage us. But in our challenges, when we feel life is falling apart, we can like Paul “resist the enemy, standing firm in the faith, (1 Peter 5:9 NIV) so that “the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body.”
Hard places are real at any age and in every life season. They hurt and demoralize us. We don’t deny them. BUT GOD!!!! Life-giving truth in God’s word is real too. It’s a treasure of hope. We are offered grace to get through, strength to persevere, and we are never alone (Hebrews 13:5). Our trouble does not have the final say; we can live hopeful in God’s promises until He calls us home. This is why we do not lose courage.
Though our outer self is heading for decay our inner self is being renewed every day.
For our light and transient troubles are achieving for us an everlasting Glory whose weight is beyond description.
So we don’t focus on the troubles we can see now; rather, we focus on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever."
- 2 Corinthians 4:7-9, 16-18
Consider this:
- Grapes must be crushed before there is wine to enjoy
- Olives are hard pressed to produce the beneficial oil
- Diamonds are formed under intense pressure
- Seeds must be planted in darkness before they can grow.
Whenever we are feeling the pressure of life; when were feeling crushed or that things are pressing in on us, lost in darkness unable to see what God is doing... We're most likely in a place of powerful transformation, let's not try to change our circumstance or get out of our situation; this is when we trust God. Trust the process. Be still and know that He is at work producing eternal blessings.
I love sharing what I need to hear.
AMEN!
