PRESS IN
The past few months have been a little difficult in my world. If you are a steady reader of this blog, then you are aware of my transparency through my writing. You may also be aware of my absence over the past few months. While writing has always been my outlet, I haven’t written a single thing. Today, I sit in this noisy (yet soothing) Starbucks and write to you.
While life may seem to be weighing things down, I remind myself that I am a winner. You are also a winner. We often hear that we should worship while we feel strife. If we are being honest, that is hard. It’s quite hard not to sulk and lay in your sadness. It is hard to continue to pray when you see no fruit from your prayers. It is hard to love when you feel unloved. It is hard to keep pushing forward when you feel rejected. It is even harder to give when you are in a season of need. Press in any way.
God will allow us to go through trials and tests to stretch us. Disclaimer, It is ok to fail the test. God is not upset that we make a mistake. We just need to be intentional about not making the same mistakes. God walks with us through every season of our lives. God, Our Father has never lost a battle. If the Ultimate Winner walks with us daily, that should be a reminder that you can’t lose the war.
John 16: 33 NLT says ” I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth, you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.”
There is an old saying that goes ” God won’t place more on you than you can handle. While that sounds refreshing, it’s not truthful. It is not biblical. God is a Loving Father but he is also true to His Word. You will endure seasons where things are hard or complicated but like the scripture above says, He has overcome the world. Just as a baby struggles to roll over in the beginning, after continued practice they not only roll over, they GROW into scooting, crawling and then walking on their own. God walks beside us so that we Grow into walking.
It is easy to fall away from God when life becomes overwhelming but I implore you to Press In any way. You don’t have to have all the words. Some of my deepest encounters with God were when all I had was a cry or just a groan. He wants your heart. He wants your surrender. He wants you to Trust and believe that in Him and only in Him is their refuge. Peace is unto you. Passed tests are unto you. A heart of Surrender is unto you. An obedient spirit is unto you. May the Grace of God become an influx around you.
Be brave enough to Press In when life pushes you out.
Do not give up. Do not give in. Keep pressing in. I am pressing in too. When I have nothing left. When I don’t understand why I’m being attacked. When everything I do, still doesn’t seem good enough. When my goals are pleasing to God but the journey is rough. When I am being obedient but the devil is still mad. When I just want the season to end. When I am simply exhausted. PRESS IN. PRESS IN. There is strength in pressing in.
Prayer of Pressing
Father God, We come before you thanking you that even in the midst of our struggles you have never left us. You walk beside us and send your Holy Spirit ahead. Thank you that even when we become distant, your arms are always open for us. Thank you that trouble will never last and that weeping may endure for a night, but JOY cometh in the morning. Thank you for your JOY. Thank you for your protection. Thank you for giving me the strength to press in. Thank you for mercy. We find peace in knowing that you are not done with us. Thank you for creating a warrior spirit in me. Thank you that a place of brokenness is a temporary place. Thank you for healing. Thank you for financial liberation. Thank you for restoration. Thank you for the reminders in your word that I am loved by you. Thank you, Lord, that you send your daughters to intercede when I have nothing left. Thank You, Lord, for being a patient Father.
Amen.
Photo by Ian Kiragu on Unsplash