I've been learning a lot of lessons lately. The hard way. It was never promised to us, as Christians, that life will be perfect. That everything would go our way and we would have no hardships. That friendships would be perfect, families wouldn't fall apart, disease wouldn't take lives, there would be no financial troubles. It was actually said that we would face persecution and trials. John 16:33 says:
"I told you these things so that you would have peace in me. In this world you WILL have trouble. But be brave! I have overcome the world!"
I imagine someone full of energy and spunk holding a cardboard sign with BE BRAVE in glittery letters shouting this verse full of excitement as if they've just won the lottery. The only desire I have is to punch them square in the face and throw their sign in the mud. Especially in my times of trouble. Yeah. I get it. Jesus overcame the world. But when things are hard, when life sucks, that truth is really hard to hold close to your heart. You want to give up. Retreat. The last thing I want to do is "be brave" and "have peace", even though that's what we are supposed to do.
It's HARD!!!! REALLY HARD!
The past few months my heart had been put through the ringer. An on again off again situation with a guy details aside, just made me feel worthless, not good enough, second class. I did not want to be brave, I did not want to have peace, I wanted a magical relationship. I didn't understand where the good in any of it could be. The purpose of this season.
Thinking back on it at this very moment I almost laugh at the ridiculousness of the situation, wishing I could go back in time and give myself a hug and say "You will come out of this stronger! I know it sucks and it hurts, but you will overcome! Be brave, don't lose hope."
As I was pondering life during a run last week it dawned on me. Persecution/trials they are like going to the gym and working out. Only a small percentage of human beings actually LIKE to workout. Let's not lie, it sucks sometimes. If you haven't done it in a while, it hurts. It hurts really bad. The pain doesn't just sting and go away. The pain lingers for a few days as your muscles become sore. You get sweaty and stinky, you might even injure yourself. I would also say that the percentage of people who regret a workout is very minimal, if that at all. You see, after we exercise the outcome is a healthier body. We are stronger, able to take on more physical things in the world. We look better, feel better. Those endorphins start flowing through our veins and we feel as if we can take over the world!!!
The reason why I laughed earlier this week, is because I laughed at my teeny tiny puny human brain. The brain that didn't see the positive outcome, the brain that wasn't 'peacful' and 'brave'. You see, I've since come out of my rut. I've learned alot from the situation. I've matured when it comes to dealing with relationships. I have a new perspective on the man God has for me. I'm closer to my Jesus than ever before. I'm actually grateful it occurred. It definitely was not fun to go through by any means, I will liken it to doing 1,000 sit ups in a row. However, if that's what it took to get me to where I am today, I would do it all over again. Sometimes it takes 1,000 sit ups to get a nice set of abs! And when those abs come, it's worth it! God's got our back! I love that.
The Lord directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives.
Though they stumble, they will never fall, for the Lord holds them by the hand.
Though they stumble, they will never fall, for the Lord holds them by the hand.
- Psalm 37:23-24
