You experienced suffering, hardships, trials, persecutions, and struggles. You sacrificed all for the sake of Christ and for His call. You struggled and endured many hard times and worked hard for your Lord. Remember that He has allowed all of them to come into your life for a great purpose. He will strengthen and keep you through each one. He will lift you up in the end.
And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. To Him be the dominion forever and ever. Amen. 1 Peter 5:10-11
What strengthening have you received? What wisdom and understanding you have been given. What insight have you now looked back upon? All the Lord has done for you, in you, and through you. What blessings He has poured out on your life and the lives you have touched.
Most of it, you may not even realize. The people you have touched, the lives you have helped, and the souls you have saved through Christ. The eternal rewards you have built up will be out of this world. Most of these benefits you will never know until you are in glory, but they are all there. Stop for a minute and think of all the Lord has done.
When the Lord restored the fortunes of Zion, we were like those who dream. Then our mouth was filled with laughter, and our tongue with shouts of joy; then they said among the nations, “The Lord has done great things for them.” The Lord has done great things for us; we are glad. Psalm 126:1-3
And He who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to His purpose. Romans 8:27-28
Just as the Apostle Paul was given power in his weakness and was strengthened by God, saying, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” God is also saying to you this day that His power is perfected through your weakness. He strengthens and builds you up in His power to do His will. Otherwise, you could do nothing good for Him without Him.
So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited. Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. But He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”
Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong. 2 Corinthians 12:7-10
Praise Him and glorify His holy name, for He is good, He is mighty, and He has all things in hand. Praise Him and give Him Honor for every situation, hardship, and trial. Because He is doing fantastic and beautiful things within your heart, mind, and soul. Using you for excellent and eternal purposes.
Praise the Lord! Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good, for His steadfast love endures forever! Who can utter the mighty deeds of the Lord or declare all His praise? Blessed are they who observe justice, who do righteousness at all times! Psalm 106:1-3
He is still molding, shaping, and smoothing out the rough edges. He is filling in your cracks with gold. He is healing your every wound. He has crafted you into a solid and powerful tool. A tool, when wielded by His own hand and His Gospel, can lose the chains of bondage, free the slaves of addiction, and bring the proud to their knees. It will humble mighty kings and totter kingdoms and save the very souls of men. All through the holy, awesome, and mighty hand of the Lord.
Come, behold the works of the Lord, how He has brought desolations on the earth. He makes wars cease to the end of the earth; He breaks the bow and shatters the spear; He burns the chariots with fire. “Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations. I will be exalted in the earth!” The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. Psalm 46:8-11
The Soul Sower 