Lately I’ve been walking through a season of loneliness and hurt. Feelings of being inadequate wash over me making me feel inferior. Many great lessons in life are learned by painful suffering. Is it possible that God could shine His glory through my brokenness? Sometimes God allows us to be hurt and put in situations where we are unsure of ourselves, so we can better trust Him. When I am obeying and serving God it can be difficult and trying. But God sees the bigger picture. I must trust His eyes, not my own. “Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.” Proverbs 3:5-6.
Quite frequently God puts roadblocks in our lives. Sometimes I think God uses roadblocks to test us and see if we are really committed to Him. The Pilgrims went through hardship after hardship just to reach America. People must’ve told them over and over again that they were crazy to bring their children across a cold ocean to a land they’d never seen just so they could worship God freely. But the words of others and the lonely, desolate feelings of being separated from the familiar could not stop them from living out a God given calling that was greater.
“Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution. “2 Tim. 3:12. Nowhere in the Bible does it say that following Christ is easy. In fact, I should not be surprised when my life is difficult and trying. But it can be hard when people you trust, and love disappoint you.
“For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.” Romans 8:18.
As a woman of Christ I am to have an attitude of graceful humility. My life and my words are to reflect the love of Christ.
“Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus.” Philp. 2:5.
Of all people Jesus is the one that can most understand suffering.
“He was wounded for our transgressions and bruised for our iniquities.” Isaiah 53:5 Jesus was hurt and punished for sins that He never committed. You the know the feeling you have in the pit of your stomach when you’ve done something wrong. You squirm and feel disgusting inside. Magnify that by a million. That is a slight picture of what Jesus must have felt but for our sins. Jesus was hurt by people that should’ve welcomed Him. Yet He bore the emotional and physical pain because He wanted to personally know you! Hebrews 12:2
Jesus was ridiculed and mocked for healing on the Sabbath. Jesus came to bring people to Himself. Through His healing, people came to know Christ. But the Pharisees and religious rulers couldn’t see the heart of Jesus. The person Jesus was healing was more important in God’s eyes than a rule that stated no one should be healed on Sunday. I do not want to be a rule breaker but neither do I want to live a life that only pleases people. Someday there may come a point where we must choose to obey societal rules or follow Christ. Already you cannot do both. My intent is to glorify Christ, follow Him, and use my gifts for His glory.
Dear friend, sometimes when you’re following Christ others will make fun of you and try to deter you from the calling God has stamped on your heart. Sometimes God calls us to tasks that we cannot handle. Let me say that again. Sometimes God calls us to tasks we cannot handle. Noah could not handle the ridicule and persecution that came from building an ark, David could not handle Goliath. Gideon who was the youngest and who felt inferior, could not handle a whole army by himself and become victorious. Joshua couldn’t defeat Jericho on his own. The enemy was too much. Mary could not handle the shame associated with being pregnant out of wedlock, Every single person that has ever done anything for God was asked to do a task that was too much, that didn’t make sense and that they couldn’t explain to those around them. They were laughed at and thought crazy for believing God to that extreme. Faith was all well and good until it was put to that strong of a test. I’m sure even well intended people that followed God told Corrie Ten Boom not to hide Jews, or Gladys Aylward not to go to China. Well-meaning people will tell you that you are terribly inadequate for the job that the Lord Jesus has called you to. And Satan will want you to believe every word. He is the father of lies and wants you to believe every word. John 8:44. He is the master of taking God’s words and twisting it. But even partial truth is the same as a lie. We are always inadequate for the tasks that God entrusts us too. The point is not to become cocky with our calling but to humbly depend entirely on HIM. Do not allow someone’s opinion of you stop you from doing what God has called you too. It is most hurtful when God’s people are the ones that minimize and reject what God is doing in your life. But in the middle of the raging sea, in the middle of the mess I must surrender to the Father’s will. I cannot change or dictate what others do. But I can, by God’s grace, change how I react.
“Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking, be put away from you with all malice. And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you. Therefore, be imitators of God as dear children. And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, and offering and sweet-smelling aroma.” Eph. 4:29-5:2.
I must constantly act with an attitude of kindness and forgiveness especially to those who wrong me. Many times, people are not aware of how they have hurt me. But it is even worse when the hurt is intentional and deliberate. Love them. Love them in the name of Jesus. Sometimes it is necessary to spend less time with this person. I do not think it is wise to trust this person with your heart. But you must forgive and love them in the name of Jesus. Jesus paid it all so all to Him I owe. He can expect no less. I am not saying that forgiveness is easy. Words hurt. They sting, and it is very difficult to forgive. But if we are to move forward in the calling God has for us we must forgive those who doubted what God was doing through us. Otherwise it is like giving into defeat. If we allow the words of our critics to shape us then it is like we are telling God that we give up. I cannot do anything of value apart from Him.
“For without Me you can do nothing!” John 15:5.
And girl you better fight like a warrior in the name of Jesus.
“Thus says the LORD to you: Do not be afraid nor dismayed because of this great multitude, for the battle is not yours, but God’s.” 2 Chron. 20:15.
When you entrust God with our hearts He is the one who does the fighting. I must rest in Him and allow Him to take care of those that come up against me.
Much Love.
Sarah ❤ ❤
Thorns amidst the Roses 