Perhaps you’re worried about loved ones impacted by the fires in California \u2014 or you are one of the millions of people struggling to make it without clean air, electricity or safety. Maybe you’ve lost your home.<\/p>\n
Or you may be the person dealing with internal trial: health problems, financial challenges or splintered relationships. Maybe someone you love has recently died and the grief has you frozen in sorrow.<\/p>\n
It could be that your Gospel living \u2014 your faithful walk with Christ \u2014 has you meeting roadblock after roadblock. Each detour and struggle has you feeling like you aren’t getting anywhere or making any progress. You are losing hope and confidence that you’re on the right path, that God wants you to proceed. You don’t know if you have any steam left in you for loving others.<\/p>\n
No matter which circumstances have you carrying a cross, here’s what I want to assure you today: you are not alone. Jesus is with you in all of it. The community of Christ cares for you.<\/p>\n
To boost you up and impart consolation, I’m offering some inspiration in the mess. Here’s some goodness that keeps me going.<\/p>\n
THE WORD OF GOD<\/strong><\/p>\n Much of the Bible contains encouragement<\/a> to persevere, to trust, to remain faithful and accept the cost of loving God and neighbor.<\/p>\n I’ve heard a lot of people proclaim that “God doesn’t give us more than we can handle,” which is a clich\u00e9 I dislike, because it suggests that we (individually) must handle the hard times, the painful parts of living. But such a sentiment doesn’t match what I have come to know: we are strengthened by God and community, we all are in need of help and support.<\/p>\n Here’s a verse that agrees: only if we rely on God, if we turn to Christ, will we be able to handle what’s tough:<\/p>\n “No trial has come to you but what is human. God is faithful and will not let you be tried beyond your strength; but with the trial he will also provide a way out, so that you may be able to bear it.”<\/strong> \u2014 1 Corinthians 10:13<\/p>\n Scripture reminds us that a paradox of the spiritual life (and discipleship, for that matter) is accepting hardships as part of the price we pay for growing closer to God; once we embrace our weakness, we’re able to know strength.<\/p>\n “Therefore, that I might not become too elated, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, an angel of Satan, to beat me, to keep me from being too elated. Three times I begged the Lord about this, that it might leave me, but he said to me, \u201cMy grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness.\u201d I will rather boast most gladly of my weaknesses, in order that the power of Christ may dwell with me. Therefore, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and constraints, for the sake of Christ, for when I am weak, then I am strong.” \u2014 <\/strong>2 Corinthians 12:7-10<\/p>\n Plus, Scripture assures us that God remains with us; God is the true source of our strength.<\/p>\n “I command you: be strong and steadfast! Do not fear nor be dismayed, for the Lord, your God, is with you wherever you go.” \u2014 <\/strong>Joshua 1:9<\/a><\/p>\n FROM THE MESSY JESUS BUSINESS ARCHIVES<\/strong><\/p>\n A poem, “encouragement”\u00a0(![\"\"](\"https:\/\/customwordpresssites.com\/mjb\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/photo-1492176273113-2d51f47b23b0.jpeg?w=648\")
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