What do you typically do when things get hard? I mean REAL hard. Hard like “I can’t take any more of this or I may break” kind of hard. Do you shut down? Do you hide from life? Do you question God and his goodness for letting this happen to you?
Recently, I’ve been facing quite a few trials. Nothing life altering like death or divorce or whatever else you deem life altering. Just lots of difficult things that keep piling up on me. Some small, some real big and scary, none unmanageable on its own, but together combined it creates this monster looming over my mind and soul looking to swallow me up.
Can you relate?
This weekend, I had a couple small things happen. One in particular just reopened a bunch of old wounds. I have worked hard to allow the Lord to put salve on those wounds and quit hiding from him and others. Then here comes someone who just sees the outside with no context for my life and, absolutely unbeknownst to them and I’m sure unintended by them, picks off the scabs of those wounds and I find myself bleeding all over again.
“Maybe she’s right about me”
“You are unfit”
“You are disqualified”
“You dishonor God”
“He is so disappointed with you”
“Just give up and live your unimportant life”
Yikes! Have you heard the enemy of your soul say those things to you? Maybe you think it comes from you. The realization of your own shortcomings and lack becomes unbearable and then the idea that God loves you despite that lack, that sin, your big ugly mess, becomes hard to believe.
But Satan is the accuser of the brethren, isn’t he? He doesn’t just want to toy with your life, he wants to kick you while you’re down again and again until you give up or walk away from the Lord. He hates you and he wants you to know it.
Those thoughts…self-condemnation, accusation, devaluing thoughts…they aren’t birthed in you. They start as whispers we allow to take root in our hearts and give credence to their veracity. Once we start believing them, the enemy has a stronghold in our life.
I have worked too long and too hard at allowing the Lord to uproot my sin, tear down my strongholds, and bring me freedom to let myself be brought right back into bondage.
Initially, I was so hurt and crowded with feelings of doubt and “not good enoughs”. But as I drove home in my car alone, the Lord reminded me, not of my true value, my worth, his calling on my life, how “special” he thinks I am…He reminded me of this passage…
“Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.”
James 1:2-4 ESV
Count it all joy. This heartache? Count it all joy. This personal turmoil? Count it all joy. These problems in my life I’m drowning in? Count it all joy.
Immediately I knew I needed to bring myself to a place of gratitude in my heart. How can I be thankful for trials or suffering? Because it produces steadfastness. Do you know what the Greek word for steadfastness means?
Cheerful endurance.
I can endure it all - not in my own strength - but through the power of Christ who raised the dead that lives inside me. And if I can’t be cheerful remembering the pure, astounding GIFT of His presence and power in my life, I just don’t get it.
He is working in my suffering and trials. The enemy means it for evil, but He is using it for my good and his purpose. He is the author and perfecter of my faith. How can my faith be made perfect if I have all the answers and never go through difficulty that requires trust? It wouldn’t be faith at all.
Count it all joy.
He is doing something new and good in me. These trials are a passageway to greater faith, greater trust, and greater joy. So I can count it all joy.
“For the joy set before him, he endured the cross…” Hebrews 12:2
Christ went through the greatest suffering of all, separation and ultimate betrayal, and he could do it because of the joy in what it would produce.
Our suffering births joy when we offer ourselves as living sacrifices unto Jesus. He is trustworthy. He is faithful. He is good. He is worthy of my trust. He will waste nothing I give him…it will be put to good use in my life.
“All things work together for the good of those who love him and are called according to his purpose.” Romans 8:28
Not some things, not only good things, ALL things. The pain, suffering, confusion, questions unanswered, heartache, betrayal…He will work it ALL together for your good as you love him and live his purpose for you.
So count it all joy.
No matter what you are suffering…count it all joy.
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