I never liked hard times growing up. I actually avoided things that had that sort of potential. I hated the feelings of anxiety, worry, and stress those periods of life could bring, and I bet you did as well. I always chose the easy route, the road that I could clearly see the path from start to finish – the one with fewer potholes, less bumpy surfaces, and no scary figures trying to frighten me at every turn. To be frank, if the seasoning was easy, I sprinkled that thing on everything in my life. But the thing about God, especially as a Christian is that some things are meant to be difficult, to build character and strengthen our endurance. Most importantly, they are there to showcase to us and others where we truly draw our strength from when we feel we have none left to give – it comes from God. Psalms 28:7 reminds us that, The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and I am helped: Therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my song will I praise him.
Just like you, I see that verse and understand it, but at times in the midst of my trials, it is hard to believe it. What I’ve learned and you have to, I bet, is that on this journey we call life, we will have to endure. We may be low mentally or spiritually, constantly pondering how and if we’ll ever get back up. We have been and will be in circumstances that will have us questioning if we did something to offend God like Job. But Romans 2:11 reminds us that God is no respecter of persons. We all have and will go through even more trials that will try and shake us to our cores and bring us to our knees, leaving us with one thing to say, thank God for all my setbacks, He’s the reason I’m able to get back.
I say this because I recently learned nothing happens to us without God’s permission. Learning this unexpectedly freed me from the bondage that my negative life circumstances tried to place me in.
You may be thinking, well it’s easy for you to say this, you aren’t going through what I’m going through, endured what I have. Yes, you’re right. But I have endured and currently am enduring trials that only God could claim the glory for. Things that without a doubt had to be God. From death at birth, having survived cancer twice, my own suicide attempt, being a victim of gun violence, and so much more to recount. So, I can personally attest to the fact that if God can do it for me, I know God can do it for you. I won’t say these trials will be pretty or that you will be comfortable. Nothing great ever came from the comfort zone. Like this quote reminds us:
“Sometimes you must hurt in order to know, fall in order to grow, lose in order to gain. Because most of life’s greatest lessons are learned through the pain.”
I hope for all of us to be receive what God told Joshua and for it to motivate us all,
“Be strong and courageous; do not be frightened and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”
If you are anything like me and you need even more assurance from God of His rescuing from hard times, you can gain reassurance from Isaiah 6:3 & 7 which says,
3: To all who mourn in Israel, he will give a crown of beauty for ashes, a joyous blessing instead of mourning, festive praise instead of despair. In their righteousness, they will be like great oaks that the Lord has planted for his own glory.
7: Instead of shame and dishonor, you will enjoy a double share of honor. You will possess a double portion of prosperity in your land, and everlasting joy will be yours.
This should not make us think or even aspire to be millionaires and kings and queens of worldly treasures. No. If that happens for you, great, but this should instill an unshakeable faith in God. That with Him, anything is possible. God is a rescuer and a provider. Those dark days and hard periods have an expiration date with Him, and through all of it, we are better for it.
Life is not won by the fastest, strongest, or the swift, but by the one who endures till the end, as we are reminded in Ecclesiastes 9:11.
Motivating Words:
Even though you’re being fought, it does not mean you’re defeated! (Psalms 91:6).
