The last few weeks have included some painful moments, as I have waited for the discomfort of a pinched nerve to ease. I’ve had to slow down and change some of my behavior which doesn’t come easy for me.
I was thinking this past weekend about the different kinds of pain we can experience. Some pain leads to a blessing, which makes the pain seem worthwhile. I was blessed to carry three children in my womb, and there were moments during those pregnancies where pain reared its ugly head. But I can remember that whenever I would complain during my pregnancies, my mom would always say that this was only for a season and when the precious bundle would be placed in my arms, all the pain and discomfort would be worth it. As was the case many times…my mom was right.
The problem is that not everything in life is that way. Not every discomfort, not every pain, and not every time of suffering ends with a joyous moment. The trials we face aren’t always contained in a nine-month period where we can see the light at the end of the tunnel from the beginning. In fact, I have witnessed people who have had to face times of testing that have lasted for years. How unfair is that? Why do some people seem to skate through life without pain and suffering, while others seem to face misery at every turn?
If I had the answers to these questions…I would be a very wealthy woman. God never promised that we would always know the “whys” of life; He only promised that we could know the “Who” of life. Without exception, those whom I have met that have faced adversities with grace, have demonstrated that their “Who”…Jesus Christ…has remained their constant focus and has overshadowed their need to always know “why”.
Let’s face it. It would be much easier to keep our focus on Christ if we didn’t have someone else who is working overtime to keep us distracted. Satan’s full-time job is to make sure we don’t keep our eyes on Christ, so that we will easily become discouraged, frustrated and want to give up. He wants nothing more than for us to dwell on our adversities so that others won’t see Christ’s image in us.
I may have shared this phrase with you before, but I think it is a good reminder of what our thoughts should be as we begin each day. It says, “Be the kind of person who, when your feet hit the floor in the morning, the devil says, 'Oh no, they're up!'" To be successful in combating Satan’s forces, we must be intentional in putting our complete faith and trust, even during the adversities, in our Lord Jesus Christ. We must stand firm in making sure that Satan knows we have no intention of giving him any of our allegiance today, tomorrow or in any day to come. He is a liar…and we need to turn a deaf ear to him and ground ourselves in the truth of God’s Word.
I have no idea what you are going through today. You may be experiencing physical, mental or emotional pain that has lasted far longer than you ever dreamed it would. I want to encourage you to not give in to Satan’s taunts that this life is futile. Today is the Lord’s day… not Satan’s… and in Him you can find the strength, wisdom and courage it will take to handle this time with grace. Remember, no matter how long this “season” of life is for you, there will be a great reward someday when we see Jesus face to face. Oh, what a day that will be!
“Put on the whole armor of God,
that you may be able to stand
against the schemes of the devil”.
Ephesians 6:11
“Submit yourselves therefore to God.
Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”
James 4:7
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