As a bit of a follow up to the whole no more fair weather christianity, I just want to say, in case you get the impression/opinion that I’m saying ‘you have to be strong! mighty! you have the Lord! Pull yourself together!’ …that wasn’t actually what I was saying.
I’m going to say something now which may or may not sit well, I’ll whisper it, (There’s nothing wrong with feeling like you are struggling in life). Back to normal voice now. No, I positively regard it as a blessing to be honest.
So I’m not talking about other people, I’ll talk about myself. I struggle, quite frequently, with how I feel about myself, my family, my feelings, life, everything, haha. What it does do, as a massive gift, is enable me to know God more. When I don’t even feel like I can pray and I just say, help! Help me! I can’t even pray, I don’t know what to pray, He is there. He works in me and whatever is going on and just draws me into His presence more and more.
A massively brilliant quote from the bible is when Jesus is talking about worry and about being provided for. It says:
But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. (Matthew 6:33).
This is something I just want to apply in all circumstances, in every aspect of life, ‘seek first the kingdom of God’.
Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. (Matthew 7:7-8)
God’s hope, God’s presence, God’s power, God’s reassurance, God’s spirit in other words will be given to you. He will change you and your life and your knowledge of Him.
Don’t underestimate God is something I said a couple of weeks ago on a post, but now I’m going to say, don’t underestimate suffering or struggle in life. Take yourself to God, wherever you are and whenever you need him. It doesn’t matter what you’ve done, or how you feel, even if it’s really bad, just go to Him, cry out, know Him. Take it as the gift that it is. ~Even if it doesn’t feel like it.
Cathy.
The Shepherds Adventure 