I wanted to share a message of Hope. We all have our cross. It doesn’t sound hopeful, but it is! God gave us the opportunity to draw closer to Him through bearing our cross. It may be our job, a relationship, a troubled past, a family situation or a living situation. We may have a debilitating disease or chronic pain. We may struggle with depression or loneliness. These are all crosses we are invited to carry, not by ourselves, but WITH Jesus. That is the hope. We are never alone in our struggle.
Jesus knew our struggle personally when He willingly accepted the cross and carried it while being beaten, mocked, and unjustly suffering. He understood that God wanted Him to carry the cross, when it wasn’t fair. Accept it’s weight, when he deserved better. Keep looking up, when all around Him looked dark and painful. He had Hope. He knew things would get better, even when walking to death. We must do the same, knowing that God’s grace will provide us with the strength to stand up tall and place one foot in front of the other. Just when we feel we can’t go on, just keep moving forward.
It doesn’t need to be this magical and enlightening moment of clarity, and most likely it won’t be. It will just feel meaningless. But know that God is propping you up. He is supporting your mind and heart to carry on. It will be painful. There will be tears and heartache. You will be tired, mentally, physically, and emotionally. The key is not to fatigue spiritually, for that is the most important. “God, have mercy on me!” is a great prayer. Speak strength into your situation. “God, I can’t do this alone. You know my struggle. I know you will come to my aide. I know you are giving me strength.”
The prayers are reaffirming your faith in God and his faithfulness to take care of you. Satan wants us to believe we are alone. We can’t do it. We aren’t strong enough. He wants us to forget God can and will help us. We can push back that darkness by speaking to God. “Jesus, help me.” “Jesus, I trust You.” Nothing elaborate, long winded or complicated. Just a simple prayer you can say under your breath when you are struggling and feel you can’t move another inch toward your goal.
So stay strong my friends. God is here to help. “No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.” (Cor 1 10:13) It will be painful, but with God , all things are possible, especially when they are impossible for us.
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