In This Life We Do Struggle
Dear Family,
I really appreciate it when people are just real and honest about what they’re going
through in life. Most believers try to keep their focus on the good things they have in
Christ and the hope we have for a future with Him in Heaven. But, in this life we do
struggle, often with very similar things unbelievers struggle with.
We all must deal with things like finances, health issues, jobs and family struggles. The
big difference is how a believer sees these struggles and how they strive to handle them.
You see, followers of Jesus Christ have a different vantage point and we also have help!
The apostle Paul, through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit said it this way: “I consider
that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in
us.” (Romans 8:18-19) He wasn’t denying the very real struggles we have; he was
looking past them to when we will be with Christ. When that day comes the memory of
our struggles, no matter how difficult and painful, will fade away like the mist from a can
of air freshener! Until then we strive to keep our eyes focused on Jesus, the Author and
Perfecter or Finisher of our faith.
But our enemy hates it when his strategy of tempting us to focus on our struggles fails.
He wants us to focus on our pain, our heartaches and on worst case scenarios. He
wants us to worry about things that haven’t even happened as though it was a certainty
that they will. His goal is that we have an “under the sun” perspective on everything and
that we will focus on anything else but the hope we have in Christ! And if his strategy
works then we will live defeated lives, forgetting that according to His Word we are “more
than conquerors”. But this is exactly what we are in Christ, because in Christ we already
have the victory over sin, Satan and the world. It doesn’t mean we won’t struggle as
most of you already know. It does mean that the Lord will bring us through every
situation, every struggle and every heartache, and will bring us safely home to our
inheritance one day.
In the meantime, we are called to remain faithful, to continue in Christ, to not neglect
meeting together as God’s people, to serve the Lord with joy and gladness, to love one
another and to be about our mission of making disciples of all people. When both
Samuel and Elijah were struggling with aspects of their faith, the Lord’s response to them
was basically the same: “Be about My business.” One day we will experience the truth
that following Jesus Christ will be worth everything we must endure in this life.
“It Will Be Worth It All”
Sometimes the day seems long, our trials hard to bear.
We´re tempted to complain, to murmur and despair.
But Christ will soon appear to catch his bride away!
All tears forever over in God’s eternal day!
It will be worth it all when we see Jesus!
Life’s trials will seem so small when we see Christ.
One glimpse of his dear face, all sorrow will erase
So bravely run the race till we see Jesus! (by Esther Kerr Rusthoi)
In His Strength,
Glenn