Are you having a hard time with the challenges you face today? Does it seem like you are empty inside, and the challenge of living day by day is too much to endure? Do you wake up each morning struggling to just be productive, or is it hard to move forward? Does it seem that you never feel good about where you are or what you are doing? Well, don’t feel like you are all alone. Everyone feels these things from time to time. Everyone has struggles and hardships that weigh them down. You may not know it, but we are all spiritual beings and struggle against spiritual forces that want to steal our joy and progress.
Ephesians 6:12 says, “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.”
The problem for some is that they do not realize all the Lord is doing for them through the struggle. He is working on them in a spiritual way. God uses suffering to refine and shape His children into His image to be more like Him. God knows you will only change when forced to change through suffering and struggle. God desires to move you from your old ways to His ways, from a place of comfort or stagnation. He must push you and cause you to work, fight, and learn the lessons He has planned to make you better for Him and His mission for you.
For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you, declares the Lord. Jeremiah 29:11-14
On the other hand, many people struggle and endure hardship because they have refused to listen to God’s message. He said, “Get up, clean your heart and the foul ways you practice. Rid yourself of your sins, and turn away from the wickedness your mind has been living out. Turn to me, and I will heal you; turn from sin, ask for forgiveness, and I will forgive. Humble your heart and desire the goodness of what I will feed you, then I will remember sin no more and renew and refresh your heart. I will make living water pour out of you and bless you until there is no more room so that my love, mercy, and grace will also pour out on others.”
Malichi 3:7 says, “From the days of your fathers, you have turned aside from my statutes and have not kept them. Return to me, and I will return to you, says the LORD of hosts.”
John 7:7-8 Jesus stood up and cried out, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.”
Turn to Jesus. What are you waiting for? Why do you continue to refuse Him? Don’t you know He has been waiting your entire life for you to turn to Him, trust, and believe in Him by faith? You may say, “But I do believe in Him.” “I go to church, pray, read the Bible, and I am a good person.”
Ok, so you do all these good things. But are you really good according to God’s standards? Has God changed your heart, mind, and soul to love righteousness and hate the evil surrounding you daily? Have you stopped the corrupt speech from your mouth and the evil thoughts you linger on about others or the things you don’t have but want? Have you stopped dwelling and looking at immoral and sinful pictures and videos? Have you admitted to what you have done wrong, asked for forgiveness for your sins, and decided to do as God commands to bless instead of curse even your enemies?
You see, there is a clear difference between those who say they are good and those who truly are. That difference comes from their heart, and it is something that has been engraved in their soul. Finally, their actions show everyone what they are made of without saying a word. That is what the Bible says are fruits. The genuine believer in Jesus Christ will produce the good fruit of righteousness, and those pretending can’t help but produce the bad fruit of sin.
Remember that when you have found yourself deep into the darkness of the dungeons of sorrow, hatred, loathing, and depression, all you have to do is humble your heart, take God’s side against your wicked ways, lift your eyes, and cry out for help and forgiveness to Jesus. God promises that if you truly want to change and desire forgiveness, He will hear from Heaven and come and do amazing work in your heart and soul, changing you inside and out.
Nothing is impossible for Him. At no point have you ever wandered away too far for Him to save you. Never have you sinned so much that He can not forgive, heal, cleanse, and restore you to life. Call on Him today, swallow your pride, and just cry out. Say, “JESUS, Help Me!” He loves you and will come running to your rescue.
Finally, listen to the parable in which Jesus speaks about the prodigal son. God is like the Father, waiting to run and accept you into His family as a son and heir to His kingdom.
“But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my Father’s hired servants have more than enough bread, but I perish here with hunger! I will arise and go to my Father, and I will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against Heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Treat me as one of your hired servants.”‘ And he arose and came to his Father. But while he was still a long way off, his Father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him.
And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against Heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ But the Father said to his servants, ‘Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet. And bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate. For this, my son was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ And they began to celebrate. Luke 15:17-24
The Soul Sower 