There was a boy who was hurt and abused. His life was filled with pain and hardship, but also with joy. For, he made his purpose on earth to serve God and to help others. So, he carried on, his limitations and his pain testifying that the power of whatever he did was not in him, but in Christ, who strengthened him. "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." (Philippians 4:13)
In the same way, Joshua won a seemingly impossible battle. His men complained that there were too few to overcome the enemy, so the Lord had Joshua weed out his army until he was left with an army of only three hundred to fight against an army of three thousand. That way, when they won, the glory would not be given to men, but to God, who makes all things possible.
Do you feel like life is too hard? Do you sometimes feel like just giving up? Does it seem like almost everyone has abandoned you? Do you feel tormented inside and out? Do you feel too weak to go on?
But He said to me, "My Grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." I will all the more gladly rejoice in my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weakness, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities; for when I am weak, I am strong." (2 Corinthians 12:9-10)
When we are content and everything seems to be going fine, we tend to ignore God. Then, when we're in trouble, we finally ask for his help. If that wasn't what it took, then perhaps God wouldn't force it upon you. He wants us to pray all the time. Instead, we often wait to pray until the last minute, when we know that only a miracle will help. God wants us to be in constant prayer when things are bad and constant praise when things are good. Do we stop praying after what we prayed for came about and then still wonder why it was taken away again?
Do not be anxious for anything, but in everything, by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding will keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:6-7)
Because Your loving kindness is better than life, my lips will praise You. (Psalm 63:3)
Sometimes we feel like we have to carry the burdens of the world on our shoulders. We almost feel like our pain and our fear has become a part of who we are. Something bad happens and we think, "Oh, that's just the way my life is." or "Bad things always happen to me." or even "Something about me must make people hate me." If you feel like the weight of the world is too much to carry, then give it over to God. God does not allow you burdens so that you can carry them around with you everywhere you go.
Cast your cares on the Lord, and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous fall. (Psalm 55:22)
Why do "the good die young"? Why do the innocent suffer?
God allows us to suffer so that our weakness can become our strength. To us, the world is everything there is, but to God, the world is the twinkle of an eye. It, and everything in it, passes away, but we do not. Who is to say that the suffering of the world is too great for the beauty of eternity?
I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with
the glory that will be revealed in us. (Romans 8:18)
And we know that all things work together for the good of those who
love God; to those who are called according to his purpose. (Romans
8:28)
For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor
demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height
nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate
us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans
8:38-39)
Like David against Goliath, we are weak against the world, but in our obvious weakness, God reveals His glory and His grace. God loves us with a love that we can't even begin to imagine. All He wants is for us to love Him back. Is that too much to ask? All of our troubles are only tests of faith. They are all temporary. Love is what is eternal...
Life is hard... but God is good...
For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. (2 Corinthians 7:14)
See also: Faith
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