Don't Lose Heart!
"It is written: I believed; therefore I have spoken. With that same spirit of faith we also believe and therefore speak, because we know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus from the dead will also raise us with Jesus and present us with you in His presence. All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause God thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God. Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day (2 Corinthians 4:16)."
Praise God in Christ, this life is not the end. As a matter of fact, the time spent here on earth is nothing in comparison with eternity. It is hard for us to wrap our minds around the thought of living forever and ever, but we will, because God promises this. He promises that for those who long for His appearing, there is a crown of righteousness that God Himself will award to us on that day (2 Timothy 4:8). He will raise us up just as He rose Christ from the dead and we will be made like Him. We, who are followers of the Lord Jesus will see Him face to face and be in His presence forever! "Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when Christ appears, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is (1 John 3:2)."
My friend, I don't know what you are facing right now, but I do know that in Christ, you have a hope that will never fade. A living hope that no one can take away. Loved ones may abandon you. People may mistreat you, persecute you or abuse you. Your prayers may seem to go unanswered. You may be struggling with an addiction. Someone you love may have died. You may feel like you simply cannot take another step. You have grown weary and tired from the battle.
I want to encourage your heart right now. God will never, ever leave you. If you let Him, He will fill every empty place within you. He will heal your broken heart and He will restore your life. "Your righteousness reaches to the skies, O God, You who have done great things. Who, O God, is like You? Though You have made me see troubles, many and bitter, You will restore my life again; from the depths of the earth You will again bring me up. You will increase my honor and comfort me once again (Psalm 71:19-21)."
God did not bring you this far to let you go. This present suffering you are experiencing will not last. Press on through the darkness and remind yourself who you belong to~you are a child of the one true King. As His beloved child, He will work all things together for your good and His glory (Romans 8:28). Don't focus on things that are beyond your control, rather focus on the mighty God who created you for a purpose; the One who promises His plans for you are good, plans to give you a hope and a future (Jeremiah 29:11).
We think we know what is best. We think we know all the answers, but truth is, we do not. Sometimes God removes people or things from our lives because we were clinging to them too tight. Yes, this is painful, but we must remember that everything God does, He does in love and for our good and His glory. "Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father? If you are not disciplined (and everyone undergoes discipline), then you are illegitimate children and not true sons. Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of our spirits and live! Our fathers disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in His holiness. 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 (Hebrews 12:7-11)."
God doesn't want to be one of many. He wants to be our one and only. No one should even come close to the relationship we have with the Father. As much as we would like it to be, it is not about us. It is all about Jesus~knowing Him and making Him known. My friend, the struggles, the trials and the hardships will not even compare to the glory that will be revealed when we see our Savior face to face. So, in the meantime, keep fighting the good fight of faith. Don't lose heart. Remember these words: "And the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will Himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. To Him be the power for ever and ever. Amen (1 Peter 5:10-11)."
Praise God in Christ, this life is not the end. As a matter of fact, the time spent here on earth is nothing in comparison with eternity. It is hard for us to wrap our minds around the thought of living forever and ever, but we will, because God promises this. He promises that for those who long for His appearing, there is a crown of righteousness that God Himself will award to us on that day (2 Timothy 4:8). He will raise us up just as He rose Christ from the dead and we will be made like Him. We, who are followers of the Lord Jesus will see Him face to face and be in His presence forever! "Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when Christ appears, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is (1 John 3:2)."
My friend, I don't know what you are facing right now, but I do know that in Christ, you have a hope that will never fade. A living hope that no one can take away. Loved ones may abandon you. People may mistreat you, persecute you or abuse you. Your prayers may seem to go unanswered. You may be struggling with an addiction. Someone you love may have died. You may feel like you simply cannot take another step. You have grown weary and tired from the battle.
I want to encourage your heart right now. God will never, ever leave you. If you let Him, He will fill every empty place within you. He will heal your broken heart and He will restore your life. "Your righteousness reaches to the skies, O God, You who have done great things. Who, O God, is like You? Though You have made me see troubles, many and bitter, You will restore my life again; from the depths of the earth You will again bring me up. You will increase my honor and comfort me once again (Psalm 71:19-21)."
God did not bring you this far to let you go. This present suffering you are experiencing will not last. Press on through the darkness and remind yourself who you belong to~you are a child of the one true King. As His beloved child, He will work all things together for your good and His glory (Romans 8:28). Don't focus on things that are beyond your control, rather focus on the mighty God who created you for a purpose; the One who promises His plans for you are good, plans to give you a hope and a future (Jeremiah 29:11).
We think we know what is best. We think we know all the answers, but truth is, we do not. Sometimes God removes people or things from our lives because we were clinging to them too tight. Yes, this is painful, but we must remember that everything God does, He does in love and for our good and His glory. "Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father? If you are not disciplined (and everyone undergoes discipline), then you are illegitimate children and not true sons. Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of our spirits and live! Our fathers disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in His holiness. 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 (Hebrews 12:7-11)."
God doesn't want to be one of many. He wants to be our one and only. No one should even come close to the relationship we have with the Father. As much as we would like it to be, it is not about us. It is all about Jesus~knowing Him and making Him known. My friend, the struggles, the trials and the hardships will not even compare to the glory that will be revealed when we see our Savior face to face. So, in the meantime, keep fighting the good fight of faith. Don't lose heart. Remember these words: "And the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will Himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. To Him be the power for ever and ever. Amen (1 Peter 5:10-11)."
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