Are you struggling with something?
A weakness…
A trial….
A sickness…
Your finances?
Your relationships?
Your job?
Your spiritual life?
Do you feel like you’re just holding it together…BARELY?
Do you feel that even though you’re keeping the faith that God’s not hearing your prayers? Or, do you admit to yourself that you should be stronger than you are right now in your walk with God?
Either way…YOU’RE STRUGGLING.
And, sometimes when you love God, struggling can make you feel like a spiritual failure.
But, let me encourage you with a reminder right here, smack dab, in the middle of your struggle…
Remember this…
IT TAKES STRENGTH TO STRUGGLE!
Even the best of us, the most faithful of us, the strongest of us feel troubled sometimes.
And, none of us are better, more faithful or stronger than Christ Jesus…He gave up His home in glory to become like US…to struggle like US.
Think about the times how Jesus’ heart was troubled and how He struggled before He went to the cross…
John 12:27 (NKJV)
27 “Now My soul is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save Me from this hour’? But for this purpose I came to this hour. 28 Father, glorify Your name.”
Matthew 26:38-39 (NKJV)
38 Then He said to them, “My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here and watch with Me.” 39 He went a little farther and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, “O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will.”
God made you…
God knows you’re flesh…
God knows you’re human…
God knows you will have human moments…Jesus did. (Oh my God…)
But human moments in the bible from Job, to Psalms, to Jesus are followed by….
Praise
Humility
And, submitting to the will of God.
This is where the strength in your struggle comes from. The fact that your struggle hasn’t ‘taken you out’ is evidence of not only God’s love, grace and mercy in your life…but your strength in Him.
The fact that you haven’t given up is evidence that God has given you the strength to overcome.
Your struggle, and the fact that you haven’t given up, even though you may have thought about it, is proof of the presence and conviction of God’s Holy Spirit in you.
Look to Jesus, who was able to look beyond His struggles…
Hebrews 12:2 (NKJV)
2 looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Matthew 27:46 (NKJV)
46 And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?” that is, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?”[a]
Take a moment right now and praise God for the STRENGTH TO STRUGGLE…
And remember this…
Romans 5:3
3 And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; 4 and perseverance, character; and character, hope.
BE BLESSTIFIED!
BE BLESSTIFIED! 