Yesterday at church, a friend of mine gave a message about knowing God's grace in the midst of trial. And, last week, the message at Bible Study was about knowing joy in the midst of struggle. It feels like this message has been one of the main things that the Lord has been speaking to me lately, which makes me starts to think, "Lord, what's coming?!" And, of course, the enemy would love nothing better than to make me sit in fear and worry about what struggle might be waiting around the corner. As one who has struggled with fearing what hardships my future may hold, this can be pretty tempting.
I love how in 2 Cor. Paul tells how tempted he is to trust in his own strength. I think if we were really honest, most of us would say that it is much easier to trust in our own strength, and to know that we can handle the things of this world on our own shoulders. That when trials or suffering comes, to just believe in our selves and our own strength. To remind ourselves that we're strong, and capable, and able to make it. But the truth is, that He doesn't want us to do it alone. That he said to Paul, the most capable, talented, and knowledgeable man of God,
"My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." (2 Cor. 12:9)
He doesn't want us to handle life on our own, or try to muster up the strength to make it through. He wants us to become weak, and in our place of desperation and need, to see how sufficient His grace is for us. How His power is made perfect in our weakness. He did not shed His blood and lay down His life so that we could walk this life alone, but that in all things, ALL THINGS, we would know...
"the secret of being content in any and EVERY situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through Him who GIVES ME STRENGTH." (Philippians 4:12)
It frees me from worrying about the future. What trials or hardships I or those I love might face. Or from hoping and praying to not have struggles or pain. The secret is not to avoid pain and suffering. Nor is the secret learning that we can do everything on our own. The secret is to allow ourselves to be made weak, and to surrender to His strength, His power, and His love. I pray that whatever you're in the midst of, that you would know His strength, and that you would allow His power to be made perfect in your weakness. Only then, are we truly strong.
6 comments:
Hey Lady, Thanks for sharing all these wonderful, encouraging insights! Love reading your blogs :-)
Lovely and true. Thank you for this!
Hey Melissa. thanks so much for stopping by today and for your sweet message. I love this post by you. I can tell you that not too long ago, I was so happy. And in my quiet time, He started talking to me about suffering. I thought it might be coming, which it did, but was thanking Him for preparing me to trust Him through it.
His mercies are new every morning. YAY!
hi Melissa...thanks for checking out my blog! I love this post of yours, too...and seeing as how you love to celebrate, I've learned about celebrating brokenness in my own life and by being apart of the lives of so many who, too, are broken.(Just sort of relating that to what you are saying about weakness, etc) It's in the broken spots that we learn so much about ourselves...so much about our God.
This is an encouraging post. It takes a lot of growth to get to the point where you don't try to avoid the bad things. Growth that comes from going through those bad things and finding joy at the other end. Thanks for sharing.
When Outlook 2010 using the Outlook on life '10 product layout identifies component campaigns to manage typically the made to order process happened. You may create the Microsoft Office Professional 2007 personalized activities to deal to a communication, and steer clear of purely explained to send out protection. Could attach that alternatives therefore the security preparing within the custom-made form utilizing the Download outlook 2010 Take on life 2010 and beyond Elegance Plan web template. You can even work with the Place of work Customised Request in order to arrange your own failure to pay environments, then the office 2010 download consumer can transform your own choices. Microsoft Outlook 2010
Post a Comment