Uphill battle

2 Corinthians 9:8 (ESV)

And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work.

If you currently find yourself facing an uphill battle, the thought of persevering can be overwhelming. Certain seasons of life can relentlessly bring one obstacle after another without an inch of breathing room in between. In these moments, we need to focus less on the obstacles themselves, and more on how we respond to the Lord in those moments.

Sometimes we go through life asking God to open doors for us, or we seek His blessing for the plans we’ve made without much thought about what His plans for us might be. When this happens, we become frustrated and confused when the doors don’t open and our plans fall apart.  We might become resentful of those around us and angry at God. We lose sight of this important fact: Sometimes a closed door is the exact thing we need, even if it results in suffering.

Our personal experiences with suffering equip us for the ministry God is preparing for us to live out. In the moments of our greatest anguish, we must trust that His grace is sufficient (2 Cor. 9:8).  We might need a constant reminder of this truth in the hardest season of life.  But rest assured, when He delivers us to the other side of our pain and suffering, reshaped by our experiences and reflecting more of His image, we are better equipped to speak into the lives of those who face similar adversities.

Never see your situation as hopeless. The Lord is writing a story in your life for the purpose of offering hope to others, but also to deepen your relationship with Him. Spend time with the Father and openly share your heart, as well as your pain. Ask Him for the strength to endure the challenges you are facing as He writes an incredible story for you to share with the world.

Dear Lord, we pray that You would give us the strength to endure the challenges we are facing today.  Help us to trust You completely. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.