You Are Not the Only One

February 1, 2023February 1, 2023Leave a comment

You are seen. You are heard. You are not alone.

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“. . . knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.” 1 Peter 5:9

Sadness. Sorrow. Pain. Sickness. Disappointment with others. Disappointment with yourself. Hurt. Betrayal, and more, can make anyone feel like they are living on an isolated island of despair. While others may be physically near, the trials and troubles we encounter in this world can often make people feel alone, as if they are the only ones going through anything adverse or hard at the moment.

But the truth is, no matter the smile that splits across a face, and no matter how a social media post may read, people, every day, are suffering behind the façade. Some are excellent at grinning and bearing it, while others will show you only what they want you to see. Different people handle their different circumstances in different ways, but it does not mean they are not going through hardship or dealing with adversity.

It is easy to feel alone in the midst of trials. The enemy would like nothing more than for you to think this way because when we feel alone, we tend to pull back into hiding, and we pull back our trust. We don’t share with others what we are going through, carrying the burden and the weight of the moment on our own shoulders.

The beauty of the Bible is it does not hold back. It shows us the good and the bad and lets us know the reality that comes with this life, that whether they show it or not, there are perhaps others around you who are experiencing afflictions of their own.

Jesus gave us no illusion that every day would be an awesome experience. He said, “In the world ye shall have tribulation . . .” (John 16:33; emphasis mine). We may not like to say or think about it, but there may be some things that come your way that will not put a smile on your face. It may even leave you wondering, crying, “Why is this happening to me?”

While the words “you are not the only one” may not make you personally feel better, know that any affliction you face for your Lord will come with a promise that you are not alone (Hebrews 13:5). It comes with grace and strength to say, “For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory,” (2 Corinthians 4:17).

In times of personal pain, all of this may be hard to digest. And I, for one, never want to brush off the realness of what others are going through. But I do hope to encourage you, dear blessed one, that you are seen, you are heard, you are not alone regardless of what it feels like, and you matter so much to our heavenly Father.

What you are going through is not a trivial thing and we are not brushing it under the rug of Scripture or a well-placed verse. But I personally pray that your heart will be full, knowing God’s love for you, and knowing the body of Christ is rooting for you. We love you, dear one, and God loves you more.

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Purpose in the Struggle

March 2, 2021March 2, 2021Leave a comment

Why, we may wonder, why God does not just remove every obstacle and resistance to our faith? Why in this journey must we fight? Why must we strive against adversity in reaching where we are aiming to be?

Can a faith that is not exercised truly be called faith? For if the road traveled is always smooth and the pathways are always leveled plains, how then will we ever learn to climb? How will we learn to exert our muscles and pull our weight to mount upon the top?

More strength only comes by using more strength. More faith only comes by being forced to use more faith. We can only learn to climb by experience. We can only learn to push ahead by continuing to push ahead. We can only learn to fight by being made to fight.

There are things that God knows His people will only learn by going through them. That’s why Judges 3:2 says, “Only that the generations of the children of Israel might know, to teach them war, at the least such as before knew nothing thereof;”.

When we are choosing multiple services in life we tend to want to choose those with experience. Take getting a simple hair cut for example. We want those who have had plenty of practice perfecting their skill before attempting to put scissors near our head that could alter the way we look for good or for bad.

God has many plans and purposes for His people but what we fail to see or have the patience for is the seasoning of the saint, the molding and perfecting that goes on behind the scenes.

I guarantee no one whom you have read about or see, who is doing great exploits for the Lord, just fell into that role ready to go. There was some teaching. There was some humbling. There was some learning along the way. It may have been behind closed doors and away from the eyes of the public, but God takes the time to make sure His vessels are properly prepared to go forth and hold all the potential and purposes He has for them.

The children of Israel might have been concerned as to why certain enemies were left in the neighboring surroundings. By them, God was testing His people. By them, God was teaching those to war who had never known war before. God was causing faith muscles to be exercised. He was training hearts to not focus on what they see in the enemy but on what they know about their God.

“Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:” (1 Peter 4:12). There is no struggle or contention that does not come without a purpose. Though it may not be pleasant it is plentifully seasoning your walk with the Lord. Like the children of Israel, it is teaching your hands to war.

One can never be a good soldier without ever facing contentions. One can never learn to fight unless they have been made to fight. One can never learn to pray in earnest if they never had that petition that would draw them to the knee with fervency. And one could never learn to seek and lean on Him if their heart were never stirred to do so through the challenges faced.

“Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:” (1 Peter 1:6-7). It may not always feel like it, and it may not always feel good, but there is purpose in the hardships we face, especially when it comes to our faith which is found more praiseworthy in the eyes of Christ than gold that will perish.

Sometimes we may not understand everything and we may ask, “Why?” But as we journey, may our eyes never leave Him who promised and is faithful (Hebrews 10:23). Take heart, dear friend. Through it all, at the end of our Christian race, we may look back and see the fruit those hard times produced, and we may see the purpose in the struggles.

“But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.” (Job 23:10).

“For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;” (2 Corinthians 4:17).

“And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28).

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