Some days are an incredible struggle. Some days, the labor is a down-and-out fight to keep moving forward in faith. You find yourself in a low and dark place, stuck in the mud of despair and hopelessness, at the bottom of a ravine, knowing the only way out is up. But you can’t seem to make your way out.
Wait patiently upon the Lord and trust Him. He knows what is going on and why it is happening. He has a plan and a reason for your suffering. Even in this time of struggle, He is there; He is in control. He will pull you out stronger than you went in.
I waited patiently for the LORD; He inclined to me and heard my cry. He drew me up from the pit of destruction, out of the miry bog, and set my feet upon a rock, making my steps secure. He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God. Many will see and fear and put their trust in the LORD. Psalm 40:1-3
This life is full of hardships and difficulties. The devil will waste no time seizing any opportunity he can. If possible, he will try to drag you down and pull your eyes off the goal. The devil desperately wants you to take your eyes off Jesus to distract you from your mission.
Always remember the Lord promised He will never leave you or forsake you. He intentionally allows you to struggle, stammer, and strain to climb your way up. The Lord is always there to help you and turn the devil’s trick into training. To lift you upon the solid rock, to strengthen and encourage you in your time of need.
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Psalm 23:4-5
So praise the Lord in the valley. He will hear you. He will, in time, fill your heart with joy, praising and singing to the Lord, even in the hardest times.
My heart is steadfast, O God! I will sing and make melody with all my being! Awake, O harp and lyre! I will awake the dawn! I will give thanks to you, O LORD, among the peoples; I will sing praises to you among the nations. For your steadfast love is great above the heavens; your faithfulness reaches to the clouds. Psalm 108:1-4
When you find yourself in that place, don’t look down in the dirt, allowing the pain, worry, and anxiety to get the best of you. But Look Up! Look to your Savior, who is always there for you. Look up to Jesus; look into His loving eyes. Have faith, it is not easy, but then again, it is not supposed to be.
Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways, acknowledge Him, and He will make straight your paths. Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD, and turn away from evil. It will be healing to your flesh and refreshment to your bones. Proverbs 3:5-8
You may be low now; you may be gritting your teeth now as you strain to climb the cliff up to your place. But He will shore you up. He will build up your spiritual muscles and toughen your determination. He will stretch your stamina to reach that upward goal He has set before you.
You will be victorious in Jesus’ name because God will do it. You will be triumphant in all you put your hands to do if you put your faith in the Lord. He will never let you down, for His plans are perfect. So keep your eyes on Him. Keep your mind fixed upon His promises. Keep your focus on Jesus, who provides, guides, comforts, and sustains you in every situation and circumstance.
He is the Almighty God. He is the King of kings and Lord of lords. He is the ruler and creator of all things and holds all things together, both great and small.
Since Jesus can do all these things, He surely will take care of you. Working well ahead of the path you now tread. It is like He is building a bridge one stone at a time. One brick at a time. Brick upon brick, stone upon stone, He is laying them before your feet, building your path as you walk by faith.
He asks you to step out over the edge before laying the next one in place. It is by faith that the true follower of the Lord Jesus Christ must walk. Believing He is there to lay the bricks down under your next step. You must believe in Him by faith, one step at a time.
Walk forward in confident faith in Jesus Christ. He will build the bridge under your feet to bring you to the place He has prepared for you. You don’t have to see it or understand it. You just have to walk by faith.
Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Let those of us who are mature think this way, and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal that also to you. Only let us hold true to what we have attained. Philippians 3:13-16
The Soul Sower 