Life is hard. I was reading in Hebrews today where it talks about being surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses. Then laying aside our weight and sin which entangles us and distracts us, and run the race with endurance that is set before us. Looking to Jesus who is the author and the finisher of our faith who for the joy set before him endured the cross. (Paraphrase all mine.)
It then talks about considering Him who endured the hostility from sinners when we become weary and discouraged. We’re heading into Easter this week, and though the world has bunnies and eggs, the cross is what it is all about. When life is hard. When you’re struggling, and when it doesn’t make sense. When you have no idea how it’s going to work out…..If you know Jesus as your Savior you can have joy.
You can have wisdom and strength provided by a loving Father. James talks about asking for wisdom and counting our trials as joy because our patience develops us so we will be perfect and complete one day in heaven. Ask in Jesus’ name without doubt for all we need. For wisdom, guidance, provision and for strength.
This is hard isn’t it? Nowhere are we promised an easy life. In fact, our promise is we will endure trouble and hardship, but we can take heart because we know the one who overcame the world.
I would be dead without this hope. I literally would not be alive because it was in my most desperate moments God did not give up on me even though I had given up. Through others He placed in my life -He held out a lifeline of hope and it allowed me to cling to a God I can’t see, and a Savior I accepted when I was a teenager, but couldn’t feel in the moment.
And even though I questioned Him and His love, as I clung day after day, God began to fill me with His love, and His spirit and His truth, as I sought Him. We can’t feel the good feels all the time. Feelings are not truth. We were created with feelings, but it doesn’t determine your relationship with God or the truth of what is going on.
So what are we do when life is hard? When the nights are long and the days are filled with the many things that have to be done?
We abide. We abide with Jesus who endured a horrific death so we have peace and joy and hope for a better tomorrow in heaven. We abide with a Father who loves us more than anything we can imagine, and ask for His wisdom and strength. Even when we don’t feel like He’s listening, even when we don’t feel like He is there, we abide.
Remember, to abide in the Lord means we continually receive, believe, and trust Jesus is everything we need. Even when we can’t see it or feel it. Because we were promised, “If you abide in me and my words abide in you, you will ask what you desire and it will be done for you. By this my Father is glorified that you bear much fruit so you will be my disciple.” John 15:7
Life is hard. But we serve a God, who knows hard. We serve a God, who loves us so much He gave up His Son to give us hope in a hard world. Do you know anyone else who would do that for you? Who unselfishly would allow their son to endure a horrific death, so you can be with them?
Where do you turn when life is hard?
We get the amazing privilege to turn to our Father God because of Jesus. Because of the cross.
I encourage you to turn to the Father even if you don’t know Him or understand Him. Ask Him to help you abide in Him and know Him. To understand the amazing love He displayed 2000 years ago on a cross just for you.
He’s listening. I promise.
Want to know more ways you can embrace this journey with God? To have joy in the midst of a hard life? Stay tuned for my upcoming devotional releasing in June.
© 2023 Susan M. Clabaugh with Encouragement in Daily Living LLC. All Rights Reserved
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