Nevertheless

�We are hard pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not
in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed�
(2 Corinthians 4:8-9 NKJV).

There is a popular saying making the rounds in Christian circles that says: �If God brought you to it, He�ll bring you through it.� There is more truth than poetry in
that. We need to be like the little battery-charged TV bunny�just kept going
and going, charged by the Holy Spirit.

We can�t give up because the going gets rough. We just need to pull our armor a
little more securely around us and keep going and going. God�s plans will be carried
out on earth � by someone; it might as well us. If we fail to do our part, God will
raise up someone else.

Paul knew that the bed of roses wasn�t growing in this world when he wrote to the Corinthians to encourage them to not give up. Sure, they would be hard pressed, perplexed, persecuted, stuck down; but he also knew that did not mean defeat.
Progress and opportunities to further the gospel will bring opposition. Expect it
and don�t let it be a deterrent. A knock out can�t be declared until you fail to get
up. A failure won�t happen as long as you keep trying.

You can mark it down that as soon as you set your heart and mind to follow the
Lord�s plan for your life with determination to last the full course, your pleasant
tropical island breeze will become a storm. But God is in it! Just set your heart (as in concrete) to follow God over stormy seas to fulfill your calling/ministry, and you will arrive just on time at the right place at the right time. Every knock down,
persecution and despair will work toward developing your ministry for His glory.

God doesn�t work within our plan. We have to work within His. ��Indeed, I have
spoken it; I will also bring it to pass. I have purposed it; I will also do it�
Isaiah 46:11 NKJV). God is not our servant to make cameo appearances in our
lives when we need Him and then fade into the background until we have another
crisis. He wants to be nestled in our hearts, not illusive or cameo-ing. Even when
we are struggling to be free of His claim on us, He just keeps holding on to us,
chipping away at our defenses, loving and wooing us to trust Him completely.
He is there to ease the pressure, bring comfort during persecution and pick
up us when we�ve been knocked down.

NEVERTHELESS!

If my eyes fail me

and I can�t see a day of spring,

If my ears fail me

and I can�t hear a robin sing,

If my legs fail me

and won�t take me anywhere,

If my arms fail me

and I can�t lift them in the air �

That can�t keep my spirit

from seeing

that God�s love is all around;

That can�t change my heart

from hearing

that His grace does abound;

That can�t keep me

from traveling

to that place of blessed abode;

Nor can it keep

my heart

from raising �hands� that praise the Lord.

What God is looking for is our faithfulness. He desires availability more than ability.
He is the enabler. �And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord who has enabled me,
because He counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry� (1 Timothy 1:12
NKJV). There are many, many people who have enormous abilities and have been educated and trained expertly that God could use but are utterly useless to the work
of the Kingdom of God. On the other hand, there are those who have limited opportunities, lack education and training that are mighty warriors for God, because
they offer themselves to Him and are available wherever and whenever
He needs them.

Don�t ever feel that you have nothing to offer to God. What He want is YOU. He will enable you to do whatever He calls you to do. Don�t be discouraged when you feel like you are being hard pressed. Steel has to go through a process to make it strong yet flexible enough to span a river in a bridge. If it were too rigid, it would break
under the stress of the traffic.

Don�t be perplexed, doubtful or confused when fiery trials come your way. �Beloved,
do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; �but rejoice� (1 Peter 4:12-13 NKJV). God�s �fire�
is just burning out all the dross, so we will come out of it as pure gold!

While Satan means for persecution to bring destruction, God uses it to refine us. We
are not forsaken during times of opposition. We just learn to walk closer to Him,
knowing He was persecuted to the point of death � for us. ��not returning evil for
evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary blessing, knowing that you were
called to this, that you may inherit a blessing� (1 Peter 3:9 NKJV). Don�t miss the blessing! Don�t miss your inheritance.

Satan might �strike you down� but he can�t destroy you. Conversely, he is the one
who will be destroyed. Just get up, check your armor, stand behind the shield of
faith and nothing can defeat you! Nothing!

Victory has already been won; it�s ours through Christ. �I am crucified with Christ; nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me�� (Galatians 2:20 KJV).
We know how it all ends. We�ve read the Book.

Be a Nevertheless Christian.~~Praise God nevertheless!