To those who are weary…

“Many are the afflictions of the righteous, But the Lord delivers him out of them all.”
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭34‬:‭19‬ ‭

Almost everybody I know is going through trials, pain, afflictions, and difficulties of various kinds. 

Recently, it seems we all have been hit from multiple angles and are going through so many hard and painful situations. This morning in prayer as I poured my heart out to the Lord, He reminded me again of this verse above as well as the following verse:

“Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy.”
‭‭I Peter‬ ‭4‬:‭12‬-‭13‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

I was reminded of Mary and Joseph and all of the trials, hardships, and painful situations they walked through to carry the precious Seed of God, Emmanuel, God in the flesh. 

Now we, His body, also carry, the precious Holy Spirit and the message of the Gospel. Remember that Jesus said that the student is not above the teacher/the servant is not above their master. Jesus suffered many afflictions, more than any human being has ever or will ever suffer. And yet He prevailed and overcame them all. And He said that we would also suffer, but that in Him, we also will overcome them all.

So today, I believe the Lord is speaking a word of encouragement to each of us: Keep your eyes fixed on Jesus, the author and the finisher of your faith. Trust and rely on His strength in your weakness. rise above the pain, the questions and the circumstances through faith, knowing that HE is more than enough to carry you through and He has made you more than a conqueror through Jesus Christ Who strengthens you. And finally choose to put on joy because the joy of the Lord is your strength. Choose to praise in the face of adversity because when you praise, the Lion of Judah roars. 

No matter what you are going through, regardless of how many battles you seem to to be waging, and in spite of the brokenness you feel inside; choose joy, because the joy of the Lord is your strength. When you choose to cling to the pain, the hurt, the discouragement… you are weakened and in a vulnerable place where the enemy can swoop in to kill, steal, and destroy. When you choose joy in the face of pain and trials and affliction, it throws the enemy into confusion. 

It is written that Jesus, when facing the cross and crucifixion, endured that pain and suffering for the joy that was set before Him. It didn’t make sense that He would hold onto joy, as His body was wincing from the pain of the lacerations and the crown of thorns driven into His skull as He carried the cross to the place where He would be crucified. Yet He knew He must hold on to the joy. And as His followers, as His disciples, we also must hold on to the joy that is set before us. Knowing if He said it, He will do it. He said “many are the afflictions”, problems, trials, hardships… Of the righteous, but hold on to the joy that is set before you because He will deliver you through every single one of them.

Finally, put on garments of praise for the spirit of heaviness. It is written that Jesus, on the night He was betrayed, sang hymns of praise to God the Father, knowing the pain, the torture, the unbelievable affliction He was about to go through on our behalf.

He didn’t feel sorry for Himself. He didn’t allow Himself to slip into a place of self-pity. He didn’t gripe, whine, complain, or talk about the evil things that people had done and we’re doing, and would do to him. He instead, praised God and thanked Him. 

Many of you are going through extremely painful, difficult, heartbreaking things, but you can do all things through Christ, who strengthens you. You can follow Jesus and choose to grab hold of joy, unspeakable, and full of glory. You, like Jesus can endure for the joy that is set before you.

Jesus said that anyone who would be His disciple, must first deny self, take up their cross of suffering, and follow Him. Therefore, we fix our eyes on Jesus, we deny our self the right to be self focused, self-centered, and in self pity. We take up our cross, and we follow Him by putting on garments of praise for the spirit of heaviness.

These are our spiritual marching orders from our great and loving Savior and Commander in chief. These are the spiritual weapons that will ensure our victory. So whatever you’re going through, put on the full armor of God and keep marching soldier! Victory is ahead!