How Did I Make it?

 


Have you been going through some difficult times lately? Do you feel like your back is against the wall and there is no way out? I think we all have been there at some point and time in our lives. When adversity comes in our lives, sometimes it knocks us down and some of us have a difficult time getting back up. Have you ever been to the beach and while you are walking in the water a wave knocks you off balance? Then when you try to find your footing, another wave comes and next you know your swimming with the fishes lol? Sometimes, life’s troubles can come just like that, wave after wave after wave! Well “count it all joy” my friends!

 “Count it all joy” is what James told his fellow believers in James 1: 2-4:

2 My brothers and sisters [C fellow believers], when you have many kinds of ·troubles [trials; testing], ·you should be full of joy [L consider it all/pure joy], 3 because you know that these troubles test your faith, and this will give you ·patience [perseverance; endurance]. 4 [L And] Let your ·patience [perseverance; endurance] ·show itself perfectly in what you do [have its full effect; finish its work]. Then you will be ·perfect and complete [mature and whole; or completely mature] and will ·have everything you need [L lack nothing]. 5 (EXB)

Trials/troubles come in many forms and can teach us many things whether we are ready or not, whether we embrace them or not, and whether we are believers in Christ or not. Our hope, faith, determination, attitude, and our joy get tested through these trials. There are days where we don’t know if we’ll ever make it through and then there are days where we stand strong and wondered how we made it through!

The trials and tribulations that we face allow us to evolve but how we evolve is completely up to us. Our person can either retrogress or transform after we’ve gone through the ringer. Sometimes, when I face hard times; the old me wants to return (the ineffective and sometimes un-Godly ways I dealt with things). And let me tell you, I have fallen back into my old habits a time or two! Maybe more lol. I But other times, I make up my mind that I would not handle things the way I used to anymore. This mind shift then is the catapult that allows me to fully rely on and hold on to “God’s unchanging hand”. Here are some encouraging scriptures:

Isaiah 40:31 “but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary; they will walk and not be faint.”

Nehemiah 8: 10 “Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”

Isaiah 41: 10 “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”

Psalm 46: 1-3 God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.2 Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea,3 though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging.[c]

Psalm 73: 26 "My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever."

Philippians 4: 13 "I can do all this through him (Christ) who gives me strength."

1 Peter 5: 10 "And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast."

Our God is faithful friends, and He will give you His strength to make it through. When you rely on His joy despite adversity, He gives you strength! Keep your eyes fixed on Jesus for He is your salvation and rescuer. Remember when Peter walked on water?!  But when he took his eyes off Jesus and saw the wind, he began to sink because he became afraid of it. He had to cry out to Jesus to save him and Jesus asked him why he doubted. When you trust Jesus to take you through your hard times, don’t doubt Him. This is what the prophet Isaiah told us and I hope that you are comforted by this:

Isaiah 61:1-3

The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me,
    because the Lord has anointed me
    to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
    to proclaim freedom for the captives
    and release from darkness for the prisoners,[a]
2 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor
    and the day of vengeance of our God,
to comfort all who mourn,
3     and provide for those who grieve in Zion—
to bestow on them a crown of beauty
    instead of ashes,
the oil of joy
    instead of mourning,
and a garment of praise
    instead of a spirit of despair.
They will be called oaks of righteousness,
    a planting of the Lord
    for the display of his splendor.


I do not know what you are facing today but God does. Why don't you give him a try?


Warm Wishes,

Carline


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