When I was young and growing up I heard this song in Church very often, and it has stuck with me. I heard my grandmother, Velona, sing it throughout her battle with cancer.
Recently it popped into my head, as I was listening to another song, so I thought I would share it first before I continued with the rest of the blog.
Difficulties and trials are a part of every traveler's journey in life. Sometimes they make us and other times they break us and piece us together into something completely different. Either way, we come out of these difficulties a different person than we were when we went in. That is the nature of trials.
Amidst the chaos of a world that is filled with darkness, it is challenging to focus on the promises of God. In our painful trials, problems can appear insurmountable with the victory through them seemingly almost unreachable, but we should not be without hope. There is a place of rest where you can have the peace of Christ despite your struggle. That promise was given by Christ as he said in John 16:33, “I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”
The question then remains,
"Do we trust that Jesus is true to his word?"
Your faith is being tested in every trial you face, but the reward is great to those who do not grow weary and give up. In 2 Kings, the prophet Elisha was surrounded by a great army who wanted to kill him. When Elisha’s servant saw the massive army, he grew greatly alarmed. Elisha addressed his fears saying in verse 6, “Do not be afraid, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” With that, Elisha prayed for his servant’s eyes to be opened and he was amazed to see the mountain full of horses and chariots of fire from God surrounding their enemy. That is the power of God in action. Even now, there is no battle in your life that is stronger than God’s ability to take you through it.
That is the promise that I stand on daily in my fight with chronic illness. Some days are challenging. Some days are more challenging. Some days I feel like I can conquer anything. Then there are some days that I feel like I cannot go on for another moment. However....
That is the promise that I stand on daily in my fight with chronic illness. Some days are challenging. Some days are more challenging. Some days I feel like I can conquer anything. Then there are some days that I feel like I cannot go on for another moment. However....
Jesus left us the Holy Spirit to help us in our weakness. The same immense power that raised Christ from the dead lives in the heart of of every believer. There is nothing that is able to destroy a child of Christ. All that we face is the driving force bringing us closer to God.
Troubles of this world don’t define us. They are the necessary tools to mold us into the image of Christ and perfect us in the plan he has for our life
Tozer understood that the trials allowed by God are meant to bless and equip the soldier of Christ for victory against the adversary of this perishing world. The believer must die to self in order to have the fullness of God’s power. Whatever weakness you hold onto in your life will become the foothold that Satan uses to take you down.
There are various lessons that I have learned from my experiences as a chronic illness patient, as far as my relationship with God is concerned.
This is a temporary experience.
Because we are small human beings in a big world, we are so limited in our ability to see beyond what's right in front of us. God, on the other hand, is a supreme being, the creator of the universe, and more importantly, the creator of us. He knows where you're broken and where you need mending. He also knows the experiences needed to heal you. Each trial is part of the perfecting process so when we stand before Him, we can be our best selves. We do not see what He sees nor can we know what He knows. What we can do is trust that each experience He gives us is given to help us grow, to give us experience and to point us in the direction we need to go. Trust Him.
This is a purposed experience.
God is with us, leading us, guiding us, loving us, providing for us -- all with His unlimited resources. What do we need? Do we need strength, peace, love, joy, or hope? He has it all. He is longing to pour out His favor and blessing upon us. We need to be open to Him and to trust Him. We need, by faith, to receive what He has for us. It is essential that we realize how much He loves us and that He has a good purpose and plan for us.
I need only look to His word for reminder that He is my strength.
Philippians 4:13 (NKJV): I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
Ephesians 4:6 (NKJV): One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.
Jeremiah 29:11-13 (NIV): "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. You will seek Me and find Me when you seek Me with all your heart."
2 Corinthians 10:2-5 (NIV): I beg you that when I come I may not have to be as bold as I expect to be toward some people who think that we live by the standards of this world. For though we live in the world; we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.
Romans 8:28 (VOICE): We are confident that God is able to orchestrate everything to work toward something good and beautiful when we love Him and accept His invitation to live according to His plan.
Romans 11:36 (NKJV): For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things, to whom be glory forever.
The evangelist A.W. Tozer once wrote:
“It is doubtful whether God can bless a man greatly until he has wounded him deeply”.
Tozer understood that the trials allowed by God are meant to bless and equip the soldier of Christ for victory against the adversary of this perishing world. The believer must die to self in order to have the fullness of God’s power. Whatever weakness you hold onto in your life will become the foothold that Satan uses to take you down.
There are various lessons that I have learned from my experiences as a chronic illness patient, as far as my relationship with God is concerned.
This is a temporary experience.
Because we are small human beings in a big world, we are so limited in our ability to see beyond what's right in front of us. God, on the other hand, is a supreme being, the creator of the universe, and more importantly, the creator of us. He knows where you're broken and where you need mending. He also knows the experiences needed to heal you. Each trial is part of the perfecting process so when we stand before Him, we can be our best selves. We do not see what He sees nor can we know what He knows. What we can do is trust that each experience He gives us is given to help us grow, to give us experience and to point us in the direction we need to go. Trust Him.
This is a purposed experience.
God is with us, leading us, guiding us, loving us, providing for us -- all with His unlimited resources. What do we need? Do we need strength, peace, love, joy, or hope? He has it all. He is longing to pour out His favor and blessing upon us. We need to be open to Him and to trust Him. We need, by faith, to receive what He has for us. It is essential that we realize how much He loves us and that He has a good purpose and plan for us.
I need only look to His word for reminder that He is my strength.
Philippians 4:13 (NKJV): I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
Ephesians 4:6 (NKJV): One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.
Jeremiah 29:11-13 (NIV): "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. You will seek Me and find Me when you seek Me with all your heart."
2 Corinthians 10:2-5 (NIV): I beg you that when I come I may not have to be as bold as I expect to be toward some people who think that we live by the standards of this world. For though we live in the world; we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.
Romans 8:28 (VOICE): We are confident that God is able to orchestrate everything to work toward something good and beautiful when we love Him and accept His invitation to live according to His plan.
Romans 11:36 (NKJV): For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things, to whom be glory forever.
The Apostle Paul tells us in 2 Corinthians 4:17
″For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison”.
No matter how bad your situation seems. you must never lose hope. You have no idea what greatness God has planned for your life. You don’t have to feel Christ to know that he is with you. While it is difficult enduring the trials that bring brokenness, hurt, despair, pain, frustration, doubt and fear, remember that God knows the work He must do in your life. He who began a good work in you knows how to complete it. His ways are higher than ours. He knows the length of your days and has your next step prepared for you. God’s plan for you cannot be hindered by your heartache,struggle, sickness, addiction, divorce or financial problems. You can’t fail. He knew what you would face and the answer to it all is being set into motion even now. His love for you will not stop. Just stand in faith and see what God can do.
These are some of the lyrics to this song,
“I have won and I have lost. I got it right it sometimes, but sometimes I did not.
Life’s been a journey, I’ve seen joy, I’ve seen regret.
Oh, and you have been my God through all of it.”
He is your God, and my God, through all of it!
I need to remember that my character should always be stronger than your circumstances.
I need to remember that my struggles always lead to strength.
Every difficulty in your life, whether big or small, is something God will use to produce more strength, faith and perseverance in you if you let Him! All your pain has a purpose.
“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” Romans 8:28
I need to remember that God’s timing is always perfect.
“For I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord; plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11
I need to remember that God will never leave my side.
"Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.” Deuteronomy 31:6
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