The Hard Stuff

Deuteronomy 31:8 It is the Lord who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not fail you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.

Isaiah 43:1-3 Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you. For I am the Lord you God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.

2 Corinthians 12:9 My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness

1 Peter 5:10 And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.

I have found lately, that I am in a season where I have to encourage myself in the Word. While daily reading is a must for me my need to search out God’s promises is greater because I'm in a refining season. I've found that the Lord has led me to and through some hard stuff. On one particular day where I was feeling tired and rather “whiney”, I asked... “Why the hard stuff God?!! Why? All at once why??”

Often times I'm not prepared for the answer nor the incredible grace it comes with. I felt the sweet presence of my Savior fill the room. I heard a gentile voice speak and say, “because I’m needed most in you and in the situation, in hard places.” How true that is. The hard place is two-fold. Our dependency on God is multiplied and the things He longs to remove from our life surfaces when the pressure is on. He wasn't only using me to show Jesus, He was showing me in my own soul the things He wanted to remove and change in me.

The hard people, the long nights, the financial struggle, the emotional weight and tragedies we face are the places Jesus is needed most. It's not a place for us to run from but to rush to. Bringing our savior who restores, heals, provides and covers. The situation calls for you to bring the answer to many who don't have it. The situation calls for self inspection, for a lesson in trust, patience and a divine revelation of his love. The refining of ourselves is the greatest act of love because it reaffirms that He is preparing you for your purpose. What's so incredible is that even in the struggle of revisiting past mistakes and facing hard things, the Lord has a purpose all along.

He knows the devil’s schemes. Isolation is one, because if he can isolate you from those who speak truth and life into you, you're more prone to believe his lies. He will do everything he can to try keep you from running to the savior because he knows the power of Jesus. When we run to God, He pulls us out and walks us through hard stuff.

The goal isn't to expose your weakness in condemnation it's to heal you to the uttermost, and show you HIS strength in your weakness. It's a perspective change. Yes I am weak but as long as my dependency in on Jesus He is strong. And then, peace enters. I can trust my hardships to the one who supplies the strength. What an awesome God. Don't be afraid to lay bare before Him. He sees, He knows but He restores, He has a plan and He is in control. He still loves, He is still is faithful and incredibly the hard stuff brings healing and growth. The hard stuff is where we get to know our savior in the sweetest way.

Natalie Snider