I wish I could tell you otherwise, but the truth is, life will be challenging at times! What you are facing or have faced in your life is not uncommon.
Ecclesiastes 1:9 “What has been will be again; what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun.
Life consists of seasons. You will endure seasons that are great and seasons that are not so great. I know the last year has been quite a challenge for many who are still expected to fight emotional battles and survive, living in a time that none of us were prepared for.
I just need you to understand that no matter what is happening around you, you have supernatural help as a child of God.
I need you to understand today that where you have found yourself is not your final destination. You might be thinking, “How can you say this with such confidence?” You see, like you I have been on my face and literally lost all hope. So, I just need to encourage you today and repeat that where you are, is not your final destination.
Chronicles 16:9 “For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is perfect toward Him.”
I have endured many hard. callous seasons in my life; seasons that made me feel like I was not feeling, seasons that rendered me speechless.
I have endured situations that my only response was to cry without a sound, because of how deep the pain was. I could only allow the tears to roll down my face in silence. If I dared to cry, the groans coming from my core would be inconsolable.
I have walked in places that were so lonely, I could hear my thoughts and feel my heart beating in fear — fear of the unknown as I pondered to myself, “Is this the last fight for me? I am too tired to fight or try anymore.” I was able to take the next step, only because I knew how to from past experiences, not because I had the faith to. This is why it is vital always to remember that “Faith is not a feeling. It is a choice to trust God, even when the road ahead seems uncertain.” Anonymous
I have walked in places that I know for a fact that divine intervention was made and rescued me. Because human efforts failed and a miracle was the only way forward.
Do I believe in miracles? Yes! I sure do!
I have walked in places where I was supposed to lose all hope and become dark, bitter, angry and resentful. I have, because of my limited understanding of life and the ways in which God will choose to bring us into purpose, even questioned the love of God for me when what I endured puzzled me. Because how can my loving father allow me to suffer? I have been in places where the people I love the most inflicted the deadliest wounds.
I know that as I write, I am not the only one that can speak this way!
What I can say is that, these experiences have opened my eyes to to the fact that God is indeed in control.
As I look around, humanity has lost its humanness. We are living in a world where it is everyman for himself! People are no longer feeling. They pretend they are happy all the time. They hide all their emotions. Showing emotions now is not desirable. Why are we being programmed to believe that when we feel it is a sign of weakness? I am here to say it is not! Jesus went into the garden and prayed, asking His Father to let His cup pass. He was nailed to the cross and cried out for mercy for those that caused Him to hurt. Was He weak? No! Jesus was the definition of power under control. He has real human emotions so that He understands what we feel and so that mere man will draw close to Him when in despair. He is not a High Priest that cannot be touched by our infirmities.
Hebrews 4:15-16
“For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.”
Why do we think that we are weak when life brings us to our knees and we breakdown in tears? Jesus made it clear that in this life, we will have tribulations, but it is up to us to take heart because He overcame the world.
John 16:33 “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
There is not one among us that has not been touched by the nasty fall of humanity that Jesus gave His life to save us from! No matter how we cover up, layer after layer, we have been touched by the fall, and at times will experience the pain caused by the fall in this life!
When we hide the pain, hurt and scars, what example are we leaving for those who are coming to follow?
Why do we allow those who are coming behind us to feel as though they are failures? Why don’t we teach them that weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning?
Psalm 30:5 “For His anger endureth but a moment; in His favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.”
Why do we allow our brothers in Christ to suffer on their own, some turning away from the faith, because they think that a life with a God that is silent makes no sense.
Why don’t we tell them that after you have suffered for a while, God will show up to deliver?
Peter 5:10 “But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you.”
You remember, the silence of God is more powerful than any words we can utter — more powerful than anything you or I can do in our own strength. God has not lost control despite what you might be feeling. We cannot force the hands of God like a puppet. He is sovereign and all-knowing. What we consider as inaction on His part, is His reckless love for us that will, with time, be revealed — leading us to buckle under His love for us!
I don’t want to be the person that paints a picture to the world that I never struggled or have never felt alone, angry, bitter, hurt, neglected or rejected. These are natural responses. What we do with them when we feel them is the important thing.
Do we hold on to them, allowing our hearts to become so dark we too are unable to feel and help those who are in need? No! As Christians, we are called to, no matter how hard it is, by the help of the Holy Spirit, forgive and move on! Yes! I know you will say “You have not experienced what I have!” but guess what, Jesus is our example, and He endured the cross on our behalf, knowing many will never accept His sacrifice, yet He paid the price with His life for them anyway.
I want to talk about the places where I fell and was able to get up, start again and do great things because of the Spirit that is at work within me. The righteous fall seven times but get back up again!
Proverbs 24:16 “For though the righteous fall seven times, they rise again, but the wicked stumble when calamity strikes.”
I want the person who has been on their knees or face, being covered in the dust to understand that there is life after the pain and hurt when they see my life. I need them to know that I, like them, lost myself in the waves of life, and God showed up and delivered me and placed my feet in spacious places.
I need the person feeling as though this the end for them to understand that our God specializes in creating something out of nothing. He doesn’t require anything to turn your life around!
I need the person that is hurting so deep but still breathing to understand that you have life which means God is not through with you!
I need the person feeling as though God has forgotten them, to understand that the silence of God is more powerful than any word we can utter. The ways of God are above ours! Do not lose hope. He has not forgotten you, and He never will. It will all make sense in the end. Trust in God, trust in His process. He is still in control!
While you wait on God, as a child of God, remember you have been blessed with all spiritual blessings in the Heavenly Realms! (Psalm 103) Eternity is sure for you. Start living with eternity in mind. “I go to prepare a place for you.” is His promise to us. We can become so discouraged when our view is locked in the life here and now!
No matter what life throws at you, you are loved more than you can ever imagine. Looking back on the places where I fell, the places I felt alone, He was there. He never left! To be honest, even though some days were dark, I am grateful for the experience. I am not thankful for the pain — it did not feel good. Do I wish to relive the pain? Not at all!!! But I have learned to trust and depend on Jesus! I have learned to believe when the songwriter says “I have never seen the righteous forsaken or his seed begging for bread.” “Many trust in chariots and horses, but I will trust in the name of the Lord.”
Psalm 37:25 “I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging for bread.”
Psalm 20:7 “Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God.”
I have learned that it is better to be on my face with God than on my feet without Him. Let us learn to live and be content wherever God is. Mary and Joseph had to flee to Egypt until the appointed time. We will be displaced at times and out of our comfort zone! But wherever we find find ourselves, let us ensure it is the will of God for us!
Today, do not give up! You are alive and breathing — your season must change! God is still in control, and He will show up for you! He will never give us more than we can bear.
1Corinthians 10:13 ” No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, He will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.”
Below are two songs that I love to listen to; ‘Storyteller’ by Morgon Harper Nichols and ‘Hills and Valleys’ by Tauren Wells. I know God will turn whatever I face into a story to encourage others. Also, whatever I face is only for a time. You can follow the links to listen.
Please share with anyone that needs this! Remember life is better shared! Have a great day and God bless You. Thank you so much for being here!
Kimberlee
