Posts Tagged ‘ Struggles ’
Though the fig tree should not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines, the produce of the olive fail and the fields yield no food, the flock be cut off from the fold and there be no herd in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord ; I will take joy in the God of my salvation.
Habakkuk 3:17-18, ESV
Though everything may go wrong, though this world is often horrible, we take joy in knowing our God has saved us for His glory and will one day take us to be with Him forever!
Most people agree: 2019 was rough.
So, if you are reading this, be thankful you made it through the year!
Even if 2019 was the hardest year of your life, or you hate the politicians, or circumstances could have been better …
… give thanks to God. And start the year in thanksgiving.
Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.
Colossians 3:15, NIVInstead, be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Ephesians 5:18b-20, NIV
We can do it with the words of Mikeschair:
All I Can Do (Thank You)
I could write a love song
Tell you what I think you want to hear
But it wouldn’t be good enough, no
Yeah, I could try so hard
To give it everything I’ve got
But I’m not ever gonna measure up(Chorus)
All I can do is thank you for this life I never deserved
Wanna thank you for the grace I know I don’t have to earn
You love me, you love me, your mercy is proof
All I can do is say thank you
All I can do is say thank youIt would have been easy
But I’m glad you never walked away
Cause your love runs deep for me
And I see this beautiful world and it brings tears to my eyes
And I think it’s beautiful to be free(Chorus)
All I can do is thank you for this life I never deserved
Wanna thank you for the grace I know I don’t have to earn
You love me, you love me, your mercy is proof
All I can do is say thank you
All I can do is say thank youFor love, for hope, for all the ways
Yeah, for everything you do
What else can I say but thank you
Thank youI could write a love song
Tell you what I think you wanna hear
But it wouldn’t be good enough(Chorus)
All I can do is thank you for this life I never deserved
Wanna thank you for the grace I know I don’t have to earn
You love me, you love me, your mercy is proof
All I can do is say thank you
All I can do is say thank youAll I can do, all I can do, all I can do is say thank you
(repeat)
And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.
John 1:14, ESV
Our God is not aloof and uncaring. He sees our struggles, came and experienced this life, and revealed the truth of our situation with love and grace.
Jesus can be trusted and loved.
All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation;
2 Corinthians 5:18, ESV
One reason God sends hardships and persecution our way: we know how to comfort a lost world and draw them into reconciliation with their Creator through Christ.
Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.
James 1:2-3, ESV
God wants strong, faithful followers and friends.
Sometimes He allows bad things to happen. Sometimes He sends them.
It is to grow us in Christ, The Faithful One who endured trials God us.
Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God.
Psalm 42:11, ESV
Sometimes this life can get us down or even feel pointless and beyond hope.
But God is God. If we turn to Him and praise Him alone, we will find our joy and peace.
My soul yearns for you in the night; my spirit within me earnestly seeks you. For when your judgments are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world learn righteousness.
Isaiah 26:9, ESV
When God ordains calamity and strife, the wise see His reproof and grow closer to Him. It is easy to grow complacent amidst blessing.
Seek God continuously.
I will say to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.”
Psalm 91:2, ESV
Do not try and live this life in your own strength. The Lord wants to help you with your struggles and problems, to make your Joy’s complete.
Trust in God. Dwell in His presence.
God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
Psalm 46:1, ESV
Our God can handle anything, because He is ultimately in control of everything.
Fall in His arms and trust His strength in every thing that comes your way.
For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.
Hebrews 12:11, ESV
When circumstances are tough, it is probably not punishment so much as a time to learn and grow. Your sin (even someone else’s) may lead to it, but use the time to grow closer to God.
a simple man of God 