It's easy to feel like you're drowning. It's easy to feel overwhelmed by the things of this world, by the to-do lists and the healing that must continue and the demands we feel to meet the needs of the people around us. It's easy to feel discouraged by the struggle that we call life. This is easy to do, but to commit to Jesus in the midst of that? That only seems to make the hard things harder, am I right?
Breathe. Slow down for just one moment, because man, has the Lord put this on my heart.
I feel like I write about "pain" so much on the blog, and I don't want to sound repetitive - but there is so much that the Lord is speaking to me in this place about not only my hurt but the hurt of the people around me, the people on the other side of this screen as they endure the hard things of life.
I want you to know that I'm proud of you.
I know it hasn't been easy, the last few days, weeks, months, years - whatever it is for you. Even though I don't know the details of your situation, I can empathize with the struggle and where your heart is at right now. I know that there are so many difficult things to process and release, and I know that it feels like the journey to healing never ends.
But I'm so proud of you.
Because even though life has thrown so many things at you, by the grace of God, you're still standing. By the grace of God, you are still breathing and reading this post and living, despite all the odds that have been against you. Despite all the devil's schemes to destroy you, you are still here, beautifully broken and learning and healing and journeying with the Lord. And I admire you for that.
Some may ask, "why would God wake me up another day to face yet another day of pain?" I know it's hard to wrap our minds around why a good God allows bad things to happen, especially to good people. I know it's especially hard when you are the one in the battle, in the struggle, one that seemingly never ends.
But sweet friend, this struggle will end. This will not be an eternal struggle, because one day Jesus is going to take us home to enjoy forever in His presence. And on this side of Heaven, even if we can't see it, there is such purpose and beauty in your story. God is painting a masterpiece, writing a glorious testimony through your highs and lows, and it matters. It is all for His glory and our good, and even if we can't see it in this moment, He is going to come through in mightier ways than we can ever imagine, because our God breaks the boxes of our dreams and overcomes every single obstacle.
In 2 Corinthians, Paul writes about his "thorn". He doesn't specify what exactly this thorn is, although many scholars believe it's some sort of medical concern. It doesn't matter, though, because it makes it clear how excruciating this struggle is for him. He calls it a "messenger of Satan, to torment [him]". He tells the Corinthians that he asked God to remove it three times, but here he is, still struggling with it.
His story doesn't end there, though.
Paul writes about what God is teaching him through this pain, through this thorn, and shares that this is all for God's strength and glory and majesty to shine through his pain.
I've heard this so many times before, but it's struck a new chord lately.
Because first of all, what an honor that is that God has chosen our weaknesses, our pain, our struggles, to include in His work. He has chosen us to be vessels for His light, not because we're put together, wholly healed or got it all figured out, but because we are broken and hurting and messed up. He's chosen our messes to be how He brings His light and love into the world.
Wow.
And when you look at it that way, more power to you, Jesus! (As if I'm the one handing out the power, haha.) If this struggle that I'm facing is how the people around me are going to know His love, His grace, and His freedom in the same way that I've experienced it, then I would go through it a million times over again, because that's how good He is.
This "thorn", this struggle, this obstacle - whatever you want to call it - it has a purpose. God's not just throwing us into these hard things for the fun of it, because what hurts our hearts hurts His too. We are being used for a divine purpose, and we don't always understand it, but that's the beauty of it. There's beauty in trusting that whatever I'm going through right now is bigger than just me, and it's a life changing mentality.
I don't know what you're going through right now, but I do know that God is doing a majorly big thing in your life, for His glory and your good. I don't know all the right words to say, and I can't fix your struggles, but I do know that we serve a good God who is working behind the scenes, loving on you, preparing you, and blessing you for whatever He has next. I know that I am so proud of you, and whether I know you by name or not, I am praying for you, and I am so so so thankful that God gave our world one of you. He knew we needed it.
Don't give up just yet; a plot twist is right around the corner.
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