I have a friend going through a really, really difficult life circumstance. She’s facing overwhelming challenges, and it breaks my heart. I want to wave a magic wand that allows her to fast forward through the pain because in the end we know that He will get her through this….it’s just the getting through it part that stinks.
God can and will use the times of darkness to remind us that we are not created to do life alone. He promises us that He WILL restore our completeness in Him, but most likely until then we will continue to experience periods of pain and trials.
So how do we live in these moments?
Because I have no words, I wanted to share His Word with my friend. I went to the concordance in my Bible and looked under despair. 2 Corinthians 4:8 was listed. I want you to read verses 7 and 8:
“But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. “
Do you see all of those “buts?” Before each “but” is what the world wants to heap down us and have us believe about our circumstance: hard-pressed, perplexed, persecuted, struck down. However, the identities following the “buts” are how God wants us to see ourselves in the middle of the storm: NOT crushed, NOT in despair, NOT abandoned, NOT destroyed.
God is not saying that in those moments we are not broken-hearted. As a matter of fact, I think He uses the negative phrases to impress upon us that He gets our pain. BUT, He promises us that this is not the end. It is not our final chapter. We have HOPE in Him.
Friend, if you are smack dab in the throws of an all out spiritual battle, cling to the “buts” you see in this scripture. Know that God is continually working His provision in ways we cannot see or understand. Trust in His Truth and love. And please know that you are not alone.
Ashley
“This is the day the Lord hath made, let us rejoice and be glad in it.”
~Psalm 118:24
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