Still Standing

“And having done all, to stand.” Ephesians 6:13

Life can be hard, really hard. Difficulty has everyone’s address and pays a visit to everybody. Jesus never said life would be perfect, He warned us that the opposite will be true (John 16:33) We frustrate ourselves when we work too hard to make life perfect. Our energies are best spent on allowing our trials to do what God intends them to accomplish: strength, growth, endurance, and patience. This is easy to say but hard to do. Fortunately, we do not have to do it in our own strength. The Lord has promised He will never leave us and while the storms of life are raging, He will remain in the boat with you (Isaiah 43:2).

If you have given up, get back up, My Friend. If you are still on the path of hardship, stay there until the Lord decides to give you rest. You may not see the good changes happening inside you, but trust that God is up to something that you will be glad about when it is over. We often ask God to make us more like Himself but balk at the process it takes to accomplish it. The work He is doing in you prepares you for what God wants to do in your life in the future. What a shame it would be if you arrived at your purpose unprepared. Refuse to give up, My Friend. He Who began a good work in you will be faithful to complete it if you will be faithful to remain standing under your present difficulty (Philippians 1:6)

In the end, trust is your friend. Trust that the God Who saved you, provides for you, protects you, and knows you also loves you. Let His history of faithfulness to you cause you to persevere through your trials. Your pain has a purpose and the struggle is building spiritual muscle. You are going to need it for the days ahead.