Hardships Are Necessary

If we had the choice to live a life free from hardships, all of us would take that offer. But without hardships, we have no opportunity to grow and be an influence to others. Hardships are what produces overcomers and successors. Hardships are necessary.

I would be lying to you if I said I got to where I am today from going through life in perfect conditions.

I went through many hardships and setbacks, and still am today.

But every testimony I've written started with a struggle. It's through the struggles that I've been able to learn to depend on God and come out victorious.

I'm never the hero in my battles, it's always God. Through my struggles, I have seen God's strength and power more real in my life. No matter what battles I go through, I see them through the eyes of victory because I know God is for me.

God has already scheduled our victories even in the midst of our battles. 

Just as God is for me in my battles, He's also for you.

We can endure hardships with joy when we know that God is using them for our good and that victory is coming. Romans 8:18 says, "I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us." The hardships we go through may be painful, but the testimony that will stem from our problems will be greater than the pain.

God promises us in Romans 8:28 that in all things he works for our good. This means we should have no reason to be filled with fear because we know the end result will always be our victory.

Without trials and testings, we will never grow as Christians. The sign of a growing Christian is one whose faith is growing. Abraham is a perfect example of one whose faith grew. Romans 4:20 says, "Abraham never wavered in believing God's promise. In fact, his faith grew stronger, and in this he brought glory to God."

Abraham had to go through impossible situations for his faith in God to grow. Abraham desired to have children but both him and Sarah were around 100 years old and past the capabilities of having children. However, God promised Abraham that he would have descendants as many as the stars in the sky (Genesis 15:5).

While God did promise Abraham many descendants, he still allowed them to go through hardships. Genesis 16:1 says, "Sarah was not able to bear children."

You might ask, "Why would God make it harder for them and not allow Sarah to have children right after making the promise to Abraham? Why did God make them go through such difficulty?"

God allowed Abraham and Sarah to go through what seemed impossible so that their faith would grow and see that nothing is impossible for God.

God too is taking you through the hardships so you can see that nothing is impossible for Him.

What difficulties is God taking you through today? Will you press through and trust that His promises for you are coming?

God is more interested in your growth than your comfort. God is a good father and like any good father, He allows us to go through difficulties as a discipline to strengthen us. Hebrews 12:7 says, "Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as his children. For what children are not disciplined by their father?"

If you had a child, would you want them to skip the process of studying and just see them get an A?
Of course not (at least I hope not). Like any good parent, you would want your kids to learn through the process and earn the A.

Just like any good parent, God too wants us to grow and learn. God doesn't want us to go through life skipping the trials and tests and miss out on the opportunity to gain wisdom and understanding. He wants us to go through the process and come out stronger and victorious.

Hebrews 12:11 says, "No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it."

Will you trust God and His process?

We can enjoy the process when we know it's for our good and our own maturing. James 1:2-4 reminds us, "Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything."

Hardships are the gateway for us to gain new strength and wisdom. Every hardship is an opportunity to grow stronger and wiser. 

We cannot be qualified to help others until we learn how to be overcomers in Christ.  God uses hardships to prepare us to be used to make a difference in someone else's life. 

No matter what you are facing, know that you can come out victorious with Christ. God promises us that in all hardships we can be more than conquerors through Christ who loves us (Romans 8:37).

Every victory starts with a battle and every testimony starts with a struggle. So remember, hardships are necessary.

Prayer: Lord, I thank you that I can praise you through all hardships knowing that my victory is coming. 

Give Your Burdens To God

Are you facing a situation that needs to change? It can be burdensome when we put the weight of our problems on our own shoulders. We will find ourselves striving for joy instead of living with joy. God wants you to enjoy the journey. Give your burdens to God.

I was worn out, tired, and exhausted.

I had given my best to change the situation, but things only looked worse.

I felt defeated, to say the least.

We feel the most worn out when we've given our best, and that's exactly what happened to me. I felt burned out because I was carrying the burden of changing my situation and proving myself.

But it was in that moment when God reminded me that it was never my job to prove myself or to change the situation - that was His job.

When we hand our problems to God, the burden comes off of us and on God. God is more than capable to carry our burdens. In fact, he invites us to give our burdens to him.

Psalm 55:22 says, "Cast your burden on the Lord, and He shall sustain you; He shall never permit the righteous to be moved."

Becoming a Christian doesn't mean we receive a FastPass ticket to skip through our hardships or speed through trials. Being a Christian means we can go through any trial with joy and strength that comes from God alone. Psalm 28:7 says, "The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and he helps me. My heart leaps for joy, and with my song I praise him."

When we trust that God has the best in store for us and acknowledge that He is in control despite what we see, we become strengthened. Everyone in the Bible who was in the Lord had to persevere through longsuffering and hardships.

David had to go through 15 years of hiding from King Saul before he became king. Moses had to go through countless trials before Pharoah released the Israelites from captivity. Joseph had to go trials and prison for around 10 years before he was made ruler over Egypt.

How were they all able to persevere through successfully? Because they knew that God was still with them through it all.

Even though Joseph had to go through many hardships, God was still with Joseph. Genesis 39:21 says, "But the Lord was with Joseph in the prison and showed him his faithful love." God was also with David throughout King Saul's pursuit of him. 1 Samuel 23:14 says, "...Day after day Saul searched for him, but God did not give David into his hands." We see God using Moses and fighting on Israelite's behalf to free them from captivity. Exodus 14:31 says, "And when the Israelites saw the mighty hand of the Lord displayed against the Egyptians, the people feared the Lord and put their trust in him and in Moses his servant."

Joseph, David, and Moses all trusted that God would take care of them despite the hardships they faced. They didn't allow their impossible circumstances to shake their faith in God.

What impossible situations are you facing? Will you choose to trust God despite what you see? Will you believe that God is fighting for your good? 

Just as God was with those in the Bible, He is also with you through it all. 

Exodus 14:14 reminds us, "The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still." God always works for our good, and he will use hardships to perfect our faith and character. We can take joy in trials when we know that in the end, everything will be for our good. Romans 8:28 says, "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose."

We can give our best but ultimately the outcome is in God's hand. When we realize the outcome isn't on us, it relieves us from the pressures of our circumstances. Only God can change our situation. 

God is in control despite what we see. We only need to be obedient to what God is saying and leave the rest to Him. God knows our needs and is more than capable to provide what we need. Philippians 4:19 says, "And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus." So remember, give your burdens to God.

Prayer: Lord, I thank you that I can give you my burdens and trust that you will take care of me. 

Open Up To God

Many of us struggle to open up because of fear that others will look down on us. No one likes to expose their weaknesses because it makes us feel vulnerable. But are we also refusing to open up to God? People may use our weaknesses against us, but God never will. Open up to God.

As a mature Christian, I knew how I was supposed to respond.

I was deeply hurt by the words someone spoke to me. I knew I shouldn't let their words hurt me, but they did.

I didn't show my hurtful feelings to the person and honestly, I was trying not to think about their painful words so that I wouldn't have any bitterness towards this person.

I tried my best to suppress the feelings and didn't even bother to bring up the pain to God.

Why? Because I knew as a Christian, we shouldn't get easily hurt or offended. I thought to myself, "Why bother God with this, I know what he's going to say anyway."

As soon as I said that, tears started running down my face. As much as I didn't want to admit I was in pain, I was in pain.

But it was in that moment when God opened my eyes to see that I'm human, and I'm not God. God never expected me to go through life perfectly without any emotions. He knows I'm not perfect, but that's why I have a perfect God to lean on.

We are not perfect but we have a perfect God to lean on. 

Philippians 4:13 says, "I can do all this through him who gives me strength." The reality is we aren't strong enough, but that's ok because God is strong enough. If we could go through life perfectly strong, then why would we need God?

God never asked us to do things in our own strength but in His strength. He never expected us to go through life without needing his help and comfort. God wants us to come to him with our brokenness.

Psalm 62:8 says, "Trust in him at all times, you people; pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge." God wants to be your place of refuge. A refuge is a place of shelter and comfort from trouble. God wants to be the place where you find comfort from the troubles this world may bring. There's no better place to find healing and peace than going to God.

Where are you running to in the midst of trouble and pain? Are you allowing God to be your place of refuge and strength?

When we are faced with anxiety, anger, or hurt, we either run to something or we try to suppress the feelings by not bringing them up. We may think that forgetting our pain will do us no harm, but it actually will.

Suppressing our pains is like taking painkillers when we should be taking medicine. Painkillers will temporarily numb the pain, but it will never completely heal the pain. The pain will soon come to pass and in a larger capacity.

When we suppress our emotions, it will only get worse in time. Hiding our pains will not heal us, but bringing them to Jesus will. Bring your worries and hurts to Jesus and He will heal your pain and fill you with his peace.

Philippians 4:6-7 says, "Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."

Once I opened up my emotions to God, he comforted me with his words. His presence brought peace to my heart that was beyond my comprehension. I couldn't understand how the pain went all away, but it did. Jesus brings a perfect peace that surpasses all understanding.

Will you open up your heart to God and allow him to speak life over your situation?

God can't fix what you don't give him. He can only heal those who are willing to come to him with their brokenness. Confess your struggles and weaknesses to God, because it's only then that he can transform and strengthen you.

It's ok to have weaknesses because it's then that we can see God's strength displayed in the midst of our shortcomings. God reminds us in 2 Corinthians 12:9 "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." So remember, open up to God.

Prayer: Lord, I thank you that I can come to you with my weaknesses and leave strengthened.