We’ve felt the histrionics that tackle us about our knees and bring us down to the ground. You know what I’m talking about. Nothing is going right, all is going wrong, and that rainbow just became the juggernaut of a deadly storm.
How do we survive?
In the voice of Mr. T, “I pity the fool…” who has no one to trust as their source of help, or the one that’s “…got your back…”
If you look across the horizon, you will see a time coming when nothing will go right, and everything will be far past the prophecy of doom and gloom. It’s time for our biggest trial.
What do you do when all fails?
I recently wrote about facing the storm but not doing it alone. Some of us are stranded in this world with no one to provide shelter or protection. It’s almost like Jesus marching Golgatha’s hilly road carrying his cross after being brutalized by the Roman guards. When his knees buckle and this strength fails, a bystander is manhandled into position to carry his load. For this man, it probably was nothing. He must have been healthy, burly, and full of natural strength.
But when the hilltop is acquired, this man lays down his load and drifts away. Jesus is still there – there are the nails, here’s the hammer, let’s get on with it.
Stranded between earth and sky, Jesus cries, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” Some hear the desperation. Others view his broken body, satisfied they’ve broken the issue the religious authorities were concerned about. No one probably thought of that statement as a declaration of fulfilled prophecy. (<<<click to read the scripture.)
Have You Prepared?
Long before your back is against the wall, I hope you’ve reached into the recesses of your studies, readings, lessons, experiences, and years of preparation to strengthen you for this moment.
No matter how bad it seems,
if you’ve prepared for the struggle,
you can make it through.
That’s what Jesus knew about his final hours.
Indeed the hour is coming, yes, has now come,
that you will be scattered, each to his own, and will leave Me alone.
And yet I am not alone, because the Father is with Me.
These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace.
In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”
(John 16:32-33 NKJV)
You may think of this season as a wash. Nothing good can come of this. All is woe. Let’s walk away and try living a different way.
Or, you can dig deep, grasp the moment with all your strength, and declare you are not in this trial alone.
Jesus is with you! Hear his voice across the ages…
I am with you. I will not forsake you…
(Genesis, 28:15, Deuteronomy 31:8, Joshua 1:5, 1 Samuel 12:22, 1 Chronicles 28:20, Psalms 37:25, Psalms 37:28, Isaiah 51:10, 17, Hebrews 13:5)
Can you have hope, and do you trust in the Word of God that speaks to you thousands of years later? It’s up to you, but I know I’m not alone!
For this reason I also suffer these things;
nevertheless I am not ashamed,
for I know whom I have believed
and am persuaded that
He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day.
(2 Timothy 1:12 NKJV)
He is able to keep what you’ve committed to Him until that Day you need him the most and when all seems like shifting sands. Trust in Him.