Strength from the struggle...

Bowden got the opportunity in his kindergarten class to watch the hatching process of some little chicks. Every day he would come home and let me know how many days until the chicks would hatch. 

Then it finally happened! He was thrilled to tell me that the little chicks had finally made it out, but that he had learned something really important. He learned that it was really important that they watch the chicks hatch, and not help them out of their shell. I asked him why, and he told me that if they helped the little chicks out, they might not be strong enough to survive.

The baby chicks strength for life came from the struggle.

The struggle produced something.

What a beautiful way to reframe the struggles in our lives. 

If I can be transparent, I don't want the struggle. Nobody does. 

But if the struggle produces the strength that we need to walk in the calling and purpose that Christ has set before us, then suddenly the struggle takes on a new meaning. A new purpose. The struggle isn't there to make us feel less than or miserable. The struggle is there to produce a strength and determination to finish the race that He has set before us.

Your struggle has a purpose. Don't lose heart. Don't let the enemy keep you staring at the struggle. The God that you serve is more than able to equip you to overcome. He is the ultimate overcomer. Lean on Him, press into Him, seek Him. He will never leave you or abandon you. In the midst of your struggle, you are being strengthened for a mighty work. You are going to come out of this stronger. You are more than a conqueror. 

Father help us to not feel defeated in the struggle, but to search for Your strength in the midst of the struggle. Amen.

Romans 8:37 Amplified Bible (AMP)
"Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors and gain an overwhelming victory through Him who loved us [so much that He died for us]."

John 16:33 Amplified Bible (AMP)
"I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have [perfect] peace. In the world you have tribulation and distress and suffering, but be courageous [be confident, be undaunted, be filled with joy]; I have overcome the world.” [My conquest is accomplished, My victory abiding.]

Romans 5:3-5 Amplified Bible (AMP)
"And not only this, but [with joy] let us exult in our sufferings and rejoice in our hardships, knowing that hardship (distress, pressure, trouble) produces patient endurance; 4 and endurance, proven character (spiritual maturity); and proven character, hope and confident assurance [of eternal salvation]. 5 Such hope [in God’s promises] never disappoints us, because God’s love has been abundantly poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us."

Untangled...

This morning Caven was asking me for some help untangling a cord. I am a master cord untangler. However, bless his little heart, he was trying to help me and it was making it very difficult for me to actually make progress.

His eyes and hands have not been trained to weave the cord in and out of the turns and loops that were obstructing the length and full potential of the cord. 

As I was helping him, the Father showed me something. 

How many times have I come to Him, asking Him to help me untangle a situation, and I still try and hold on and fix it myself? I keep my hands intertwined in the mess, because I am just not quite certain that He is completely capable of fixing it. 

He is though. Masterfully trained and capable of taking whatever mess you find yourself tangled in today, and using it for your complete good. It doesn't matter how big it is, how much it may be your fault, how long you have tried to untangle it on your own. 

If you will take your hands out of the mess and lift them up towards your Father, He will come, pick you up, and use His wisdom, truth and grace to lift you and set you on solid ground. 


Romans 8:28 (AMP)
28 And we know [with great confidence] that God [who is deeply concerned about us] causes all things to work together [as a plan] for good for those who love God, to those who are called according to His plan and purpose.

Psalm 86:15 (AMP)
15 But You, O Lord, are a God [who protects and is] merciful and gracious,
Slow to anger and abounding in lovingkindness and truth.

Psalm 40:2 (AMP)

He brought me up out of a horrible pit [of tumult and of destruction], out of the miry clay, And He set my feet upon a rock, steadying my footsteps and establishing my path.