Those troubles scream at us, demanding our attention. We begin to notice them as soon as we open our eyes each morning, and drift to them consistently throughout our day. As we place our heads on our pillows...they're waiting for us. Heavy. Burdensome.
If only.
If only we would remember what Paul wrote in his letter to the Romans..."the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us...".
But is that it? Is that our lot in life? Are we doomed to daily defeat on this planet, smothered by ever mounting troubles...only to know hope after we step into eternity?
No! In no way are we shackled to the weight of earthly despair. In this matter scripture screams much louder than our annoying troubles. Much louder!
I love this...in John chapter 10, Jesus plainly said that He had come to give life and give it abundantly. He was explaining that those who truly belong to Him will not listen to the voice of a false teacher, the "thieves" who had come before Him. Those thieves wanted to steal, kill, and destroy. The original word for 'destroy' means "to render useless".
Boom.
When we focus on our troubles, they become larger and louder than life. Our strength is weakened, our hope begins to diminish. We are indeed...rendered useless.
We must not settle for useless. We must not rest in our troubles. We must turn our focus, as difficult as it may be, to the only One who will reverse our uselessness, and make us useFUL. We can read and rest in 1 Peter chapter one...we have a living hope. Jesus. He lives and He IS our hope.
When our troubles scream defeat and despair in our face, let our hearts take courage. Let's be strong, and wait for the Lord. Let's believe that we will see the goodness of the Lord not only in eternity, but in today. In the land of the living.
“I believe that I shall look upon the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living! Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord!” Psalms 27:13-14
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