Good old Oswald Chambers challenges me again :) In yesterdays devotional, He is talking about adversity and the role it plays in our lives. He talks about how as Christians we can be confused that believing means we are going to be delivered from all adversity, but it in fact means we are going to be delivered IN all adversity. It was such a good reminder of how present Jesus is when I am at my lowest. I don't always know it or sense it in those times, but looking back at a tough time there is no doubt in my mind he walked through it with me and gave me the strength to endure. I liked this part especially...
"God does not give us overcoming life— He gives us life as we overcome. The strain of life is what builds our strength. If there is no strain, there will be no strength. Are you asking God to give you life, liberty, and joy? He cannot, unless you are willing to accept the strain. And once you face the strain, you will immediately get the strength....If you completely give of yourself physically, you become exhausted. But when you give of yourself spiritually, you get more strength. God never gives us strength for tomorrow, or for the next hour, but only for the strain of the moment. Our temptation is to face adversities from the standpoint of our own common sense. But a saint can “be of good cheer” even when seemingly defeated by adversities, because victory is absurdly impossible to everyone, except God."
So encouraging to be reminded of what God CAN do and what he DOES do in times of our adversity. We just have to trust that He's there, He's giving us the strength we need....whether we can see it or not.
"In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world" —John 16:33
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