Take heart...

There are many faces of adversity in our lives. Sometimes in can come from the actions of another, from an unkind word or from a closed door. Sometimes it can come at a time when all else seems to be fallen into place. Discouragement through adversity is the Devil's greatest form of encouragement for him to keep pursuing your mind, your heart, and your soul. Once he has stepped into your thoughts, and encouraged feelings of doubt, he's got ya! And as long as you let 'em, he is going to hold on to your mind, taking the truths you know and twisting them ever so slightly to maintain his grip and keeping you from God's peace and truth.

God knew that we'd have these attacks. He knew that as we sought to be righteous ones, filled with His spirit, that there would be a force acting upon our hearts and minds, desiring to take away that pursuit. He knew it and He warned us. He knew that a direct result of this force is weariness.

He tells us about this potential attack when we are doing good:
"Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up." Galatians 6:9

He tells us about this potential attack when we are entangled in sin:
"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart." Hebrews 12: 1-3


He promised us that in our weariness, His power will increase. He told us that no matter our age or our strength, we will need His renewal in times of being weary:
"He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint." Isaiah 40:29-31

The dictionary defines weariness as being "physically or mentally exhausted by hard work, exertion, strain, etc." Let's face it, choosing to live your life for the Lord, is hard work. It is a lot easier to give into our natural temptations and desires than to choose to live according to His Word. It is a lot easier to be plagued with worry and depression than it is to trust in the Lord with all your heart. The Bible makes analogies to Christians being marathon runners, soldiers, and farmers. None of those jobs are by any stretch of the imagination easy...they all require work, strength, endurance, and an ability to realize what the ultimate goal or result will be. We have to fixate our eyes on what that ultimate result will be in times when we feel weary. There is a reward awaiting us. There is a glorious finishline. There is a God who desires to "renew our strength" in times of weariness and allow us to soar!!!

It is true. We will face times of adversity and times of weariness... but there is a great hope in knowing that the God of the universe knows oh too well what we are experiencing:
"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." John 16:33

Thank God for that!

Here is to soaring, when you can barely walk...

Until next time-
-C.