I know. Starting with a bang. But I started here because honestly, this is a harsh reality for so many of us. We have this idea of how our lives will look like out of the struggle we’re currently facing without taking into account that this could be our permanent reality. But, just because things aren’t going well in your eyes, you are exactly where God wants you! Keep reading because I have encouragement in this lesson!
One night, during prayer, I found myself crying and begging for God to take me out of my current situation. I saw so many others at different places in their lives, moving on, growing up, becoming adults, and I was stuck in this cycle being chronically ill and unable to truly be on my own and accomplish what I thought I should be at 25. God, through a friend, brought me to some verses.
“Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”
2 Corinthians 12:8-10
Not exactly what we want to hear in times of hardship… For context, Paul was recounting his suffering that he had endured in prison for the church at Corinth. Paul was a devoted servant of God, yet he endured so much suffering and hardship. Truthfully, God could have stopped all of his pain and suffering. He could have brought him right out of it, but he didn’t. This suffering became part of Paul’s story and ultimately led to him writing a lot of the New Testament we know today. Paul’s story did not start with a reward for following Jesus, he suffered. His suffering, though, was for a greater purpose and God’s plan.
See, what we forget is that our suffering has a purpose. No, not all of us will be used to write letters to the churches, but we will all be used in some way to further His good plan. If you are suffering currently, whether that be physically, mentally, or even spiritually, complaining and crying out to God, consider how good God is. Consider His divine plan. Consider what the things you’re currently experiencing could be doing to further prosper your life or someone else’s.
Like Paul, sometimes our circumstances aren’t meant to get better. Sometimes our struggles are necessary to get us to the next chapter God has for us. Sometimes we have to be okay and content with the suffering because, as Jesus said to Paul, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”
I don’t know what your suffering or struggle looks like today. Maybe you’re dealing with debilitating anxiety and panic, maybe it’s OCD, maybe it’s an ED, maybe it’s a chronic illness, maybe it’s a terminal illness, maybe it’s spiritual warfare, maybe you don’t know exactly what it is, you just know you’re struggling. Regardless, remember there is always purpose in your pain. Maybe God isn’t pulling you out of that situation because of the things He’s doing in you and through you.
I know this isn’t always what you want to hear. It DEFINITELY wasn’t what I wanted to hear, but I needed to. I needed to stop running from it and embrace where I am in life. I hope you stop running and start praising today. Even though it’s hard. Even if all you can do is cry. Praise Him. He has something big in play!
I wanted to add a song recommendation that has truly gotten me through this season: “Hard Fought Hallelujah” by Brandon Lake. Such a powerful song!!
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