33 These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”
One promise that we are all given as Believers but don't often lay claim to or talk about is trouble. It comes to all of us whether we like it or not; it's just a simple fact of life. We live in a fallen world. In the last part of Matthew 6:34, Jesus tells us "Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof". On some days, truer words could never be spoken.
9 And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.
Like it or not, it's the tough times that define us. It's what we do when we don't FEEL like it, when we're not MOVITIVATED, or just don't give a rip any more. We have to reach down into the well of our soul and try to find something to sustain us. In other words, we need to persevere. I John 4:4 and I John 5:4 are verses that encourage us that God is with us, in us. He is unshakable, He will never leave us, He is committed to the end. We can't overcome on our own; we need God's help, His strength, His guidance, and we also need one another.
2 Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.
If we're going to be successful, we're going to have to become vulnerable to the Spirit of God, and also become vulnerable to one another. We're so afraid of being judged by someone because of what's going on in our lives; so we just hold it in and intensify the pressure. Be real with God, and be real with your true friends. Learn to distinguish attacks from the devil and character building issues. Remember that God gives us what we NEED before He ever gives us what we WANT. Wouldn't any good parent do that? Sometimes the medicine just doesn't taste too good.
If we go back to our original text in the first part of this entry, one thing we can extract from it is that life isn't just about US. I know it's difficult, but we need to get to the place where we stop asking the Lord the "what about me???" question. "When does it get to be MY turn?" Stop comparing your situation. Help comes when we realize life is bigger than "us". Take the focus off yourself and become an ambassador for the Kingdom of God. Find someone that needs help. Luke 6:38 is not a verse that is just about money (like most Pastors use it), in fact, money is not even mentioned in the context of that passage: Give and it shall be given unto you, good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over shall men give into your bosom. It's about sowing and reaping. The Kingdom of God is all about sowing and reaping. Sow what you need in someone else's life, and you'll reap it. In the process, you'll take the focus off of yourself and you'll see God come through and change you in ways you never expected or thought possible.
Don't quit. Don't give up. Don't stop believing God for what He has placed in your heart. Don't think the Lord has abandoned you or forsaken you. Your BEST days are ahead!