What a faithful and loving God we serve! Sometimes, it’s
easy to forget the loving and faithful part when you are in the midst of
struggle or hardship, especially when it’s lasted for a long time. But
yesterday, God reminded me about the growth that almost always comes with
struggle. How can you recognize how good God truly is if you have never been
through anything? Today, He just wanted me to remind you just how much He loves
you and that even in the midst of difficulties and challenges, He is molding
and shaping you for His purpose and His glory. He sent me to a great passage in
Romans 5 that I think will encourage you without me saying much more. I’m using
the New Living Translation because it just spoke to me this morning.
“We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know
that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of
character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. And
this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us,
because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.
When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the
right time and died for us sinners. Now, most people would not be willing to
die for an upright person, though someone might perhaps be willing to die for a
person who is especially good. But God showed his great love for us by sending
Christ to die for us while we were still sinners. (Rom. 5: 3-8)
Folks, I don’t know where you are in your journey today but
I can tell you without a shadow of a doubt that God knows. The whole key is in
trusting Him through the struggle. Man will disappoint you and even fail you
but God sent His Son to die for you when you had nothing to offer Him. Doesn’t
that make you think that you can make it through this valley, this storm, this
rough patch? Doesn’t that make you realize how valuable you are to God?
I want you think about this. When you look at yourself through all of the marital issues, the financial problems, the pregnancy challenges, church folk, sickness, whatever it was; what do you see? Do you see a mess? Do you see bitterness, anger, regret? Now look again, and take stock of where you are versus where you started. Do you see any differences? I would be willing to bet that you will find that your prayer life is stronger, your faith has grown and your endurance has developed. That’s called growth in the struggle! And the fact that God sees all that you ought to be and all that you will be! And that’s what makes this journey worth travelling. Even when you want to give up, that still small voice will say keep going, keep pushing, keep pressing. You have purpose to get to! You have ministry to bring forth! You have life to live! So don’t continue to look at the struggles and challenges that you face as things that are out to kill you, instead look at them as stepping stones and growth towards your best you in God!
I love you but God loves you best even at your worst! AMEN…
1 comment:
What an on time word. Your message really hit home with my family and I. We have sickness in our family and the doctors have given up on her stage 4 cancer. It is extremely difficult to watch a love on struggle with pain but your message reminded me of how much my relationship with God has change. It is easy to praise Him during the easy times but you still have to praise Him in times of trail and struggle. For it is these times that make you strong.
I thank you for being obedient and allowing God to use you. Your message is needed. May God bless and keep you.
Your sister in Christ,
Stephanie Murriell
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