Are you going through a hard time right now?
Does it feel like no matter what you do, you continue to swim upstream, making little or no progress?
We all go through tough times. And though some struggles are more difficult than others, no matter what we’re going through, God encourages us in Hebrews 12, to:
“…run with perseverance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith.â€
God wants us to hang in there. He wants us to persevere. And the best way to do that is exactly how He says—by keeping our eyes on Him.
I’m not saying getting through hard times is easy. Not by a long shot. Believe me, I’ve been there.
But I am saying God can help.
“…those who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.†Isaiah 40:31
He can give us strength when we are weak.
He can fill us up when we are empty.
And he can heal us when we are broken.
“Therefore lift your drooping hands and strengthen your weak knees, and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be put out of joint, but rather be healed.†Hebrews 12:12
That’s exactly what He did for me with my struggle with an eating disorder in college. Like this verse says, my hands were drooping and my knees were weak. I was down-right out of joint, actually. But what seemed like a compound fracture to me was only a minor injury from God’s perspective. And as I turned to Him for help, the healing began.
Because if we keep our eyes on Him and never give up, all things are possible.
All.
So turn your struggles over to God today. Ask Him to help. Don’t try to do it alone.
With Him on your side, the race that is set before you will seem much less daunting.
And your difficulties will look different with His hope in your heart.
This past year has brought many trials in my community. My hubby lost his brother, friends have had stillbirths, miscarriages, a baby w/ Downs and just three days ago a precious five month old suddenly died. Times like such bring on so may questions and so much pain. If we aren’t grounded in His Word and promises it can be a hopeless life. I love the verses you shared. I also hold tight to the passages in 1 Peter where we are reminded that struggles should come as no surprise, that we suffer for Christ’s sake. John 16:33 is a great verse too!
Thanks Genny. Sometimes things to seem much more than they really are. I should stop and ask HIM to let me see things from HIS point of view.
Engrafted by His Grace–
Thank you. God sent you to me. Everyone has struggles and he will see us through it all. I keep telling my mom, but she just rebels.
Genny,
Thank you for the reminder. It’s hard sometimes to hold on to the truth…that our God is faithful even in the darkest hours.
I never go back to my past to relive it, but I do look over my shoulder from time to time to remind me just how awsome God is.
Thank you!! I truly needed this, as we are going through severe financial hard times right now. I look to the LORD for guidance and strength constantly, but being human, I always falter a bit!! This post shows me to stay constant and have FAITH ALWAYS!!
This year has been the WORST year of my life. To try to make a long story shorter…my two teenage sons (5 years ago) decided to see what it would be like to live with their dad. Since then he came out he was gay (my boys have had a horrible time with that and have hid it from their friends) and my ex started to want to live his lifestyle and not take on his fatherly responsibilities. There was abuse, and when I found out their was abuse took my boys immediately. I was living with my boyfriend at this point and not in their school district. My boyfriend said it would not work with my boys living there, so I immediately left with my boys. I stayed at my mom’s senior living complex for a month and a half with my kids, me sleeping on the couch, still paying child support, not receiving child support, yet paying for one son to go to the prom and my other to go to the semi formal (so they could have some “happy” times). My bills got behind. I found an apartment in their school district (not to mention all this affected my job because I was bring them to a physcologist, their doctor and a police investigator, and going to court).
Well found an apartment, my oldest starting being abusive to me. Gave me a black and blue mark on my face, attacked his brother (where neighbors after only living their a month called the police and my landlord threatened with eviction). It is a two bedroom where I have given both kids their own bedroom and I sleep on the couch. Well here goes, my car was just repo’d because late on payments (due to trying to survive with the child support taking so long to turnaround and the expenses of the kids) and my oldest now left to go back and live with his dad. I guess I am just numb and heartbroken. Not to mention have been written up at work because all of this has affected my abilities at work (where I have been there 9 years). So I just need some comforting from anyone who would like to give it. I am sad and just beside myself. Thank you.
Doreen,
I’m so sorry to hear that this year has been so difficult. I will be praying for you, that God will wrap His loving arms around you and give you comfort and peace. Hang in there and beleive that things will get better. I pray your load gets lighter very soon.
Genny, thank you so much for your comforting words…I do believe in God and love him, I just feel sometimes that he has given me way to much of a load. I sure hope things lighten up and I can find some joy in life.
Doreen,
I hope things lighten up for you too. Hang in there!
Doreen,
I pray that God has lightened your load and things are going a lot better. I am going through some difficult times myself, and reading your story put somethings in MY life into perspective. My mom tells me that it is because God loves me so much that he lets these hard trials come my way – so my faith can be stretched and His name is glorified. Remember He loves you, and you’ll come out stronger and better after all this.
Some one else put it better – we have got to go through the valley to reach the mountain top – you’ve just got to stay faithful to God and believe and you’ll be up there soon.
These past two years have been hard for me. I’m only seventeen but I haven’t even been able to fully tell anyone what I’ve been through. My dad verbally abused me since I was fifteen and left me last year. I am living with my mom who struggles just to keep food in the fridge. My grades have been poor and I’ve lost friends because of my depression. I know this will all get better and God will help pull me through it, but I just don’t know when. I feel like I need help but I can’t talk to anyone about my problems face to face… I’ve tried and it just doesn’t work. I know I just need to rely on God but I’m having a hard time. I just need to have faith.
Annie,
We received your comment at Faith Lifts and wanted to send a note back to say we’re sorry for the hard times you’ve gone through. We’d like to encourage you to find an adult to talk to about what you are facing, and we’d like to offer you some resources that may be able to help (DVD’s, CD’s, and books). If you’d like, you can send an email to Tammy Nolan at [email protected]. You can find out more about Tammy and her husband Tony at his ministry website: http://www2.tonynolan.org/about. She will be looking for your email and would be happy to pass resources on to you that will help encourage you in your faith and your walk with Christ. The Faith Lifts team is praying for you!