When you think of the word “struggle“…
Do you think of “weakness“?
“Oh, so and so must be struggling…. I’m concerned that it’s not looking so good for them…”
To be honest, I have thought of a time of “struggle” more in this way, at times.
And yes, in some kinds of “struggles” we do need a “life jacket” thrown out to us.
And we most certainly always can use extra prayer while in times of “struggling” through…
But I LOVE that the definition of the word “struggle” is actually this:
“to make strenuous or violent efforts in the face of difficulties or opposition.”
This doesn’t sound like “weakness” to me.
To “struggle” just means you’re in the middle of a battle.
It just means that you’re fighting through, in the face of opposition.
You’re “struggling through“—you’re unwilling to just lay down and give up.
If you’re struggling, with the Lord by your side…it just means He’s going to enable you to be… an “overcomer.”
“For I am the LORD your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you.“—Isaiah 41:13
This morning I was drawn into the story of Joseph.
And I looked at the way God allowed him to suffer and struggle through all kinds of trials and hardships in his life.
Things didn’t appear to look so good for Joseph, did they?
But we can see, through this story, what God had in mind for Joseph, and what He did in Joseph’s “struggling through“…. as we see Joseph “step victoriously into“…what God had in store for his life.
Even though the enemy devised a scheme that was intended to harm Joseph, with the goal of leading him into destruction, an attempt to take him out of God’s will for his life, God had already worked ALL OF IT into His perfect plans.
No, things didn’t look so good for Joseph’s life for a time, but God saw something that could not be seen on the surface.
In God’s eyes, He saw that Joseph was on the right path to VICTORY!
In God’s eyes, He saw that Joseph was in the right PROCESS to be enabled and prepared to OVERCOME!
And He saw, that Joseph really was,
in the right places,
at just the right times.
…God saw that Joseph even “struggled”— through the right struggles at the right times…
And Joseph kept going, through the hardship, through the struggles…
Until he stepped right into his promise. 🌈
“And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.“—1 Peter 5:10
“Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.“—James 1:2-4
And so in these times of “struggling”….
I can rejoice because I know that God is working out His perfect plan in and through my life.
And I will thank God for the work that He is doing, now…. that I cannot see—yet.
And one day…
I will step into the promise of victory.
But for now, I will remember…
…that God uses the times of “struggle”
to BUILD in us
the strength, and the endurance
as we grow in our capacity.
For what is yet to be seen…
For what is yet to come.
Thank You, Father. 💝 May Your will be done.
-Heather 🌺