Life will never be easy.
Even if you start coming to church and living for God.
Life is not easy. God never said it would be.
But some of us have, and are, going through things that are harder than others.
I don't know your story, but I know mine.
And like me, some of you believe this to be one of the hardest things you have and ever will have to go through.
You've prayed and cried your eyes out to the point that your knees are bloodshot red and aching from being on them for so long and your eyes burn from all the tears.
You've fasted, searched the bible for answers, and sought out guidance.
But nevertheless none of it seems to be bringing you an answer or any peace.
You are at a crossroads in your life.
You're flesh and spirit are in battle with one another.
The ultimate choice, the only choice you think you have...
Stay in church or leave and give up.
I have a friend who is going through some spiritual battles that have been laying heavy on their heart. They have prayed the same prayer for the past 13 years.
Yet, no answer. No peace.
And now they have lost hope.
Some of you are in the same battle
or have been an a similar battle yourself.
Unfortunately,
I do not have an answer!
I've been praying, fasting, reading the word trying to come up with some answer to give my friend, but I haven't found much to say.
I've said all I can.
And all I've said is words that have been said before.
But I can't help to think about the story of Joseph.
Do you know he was just a young boy when he saw his first dream.
His dream about what God had in store for his life.
It was 13 years before he ever saw it come to pass.
And in between that time he was sold into slavery and thrown into jail.
I have to wonder if he ever lost hope too.
Or if Job ever lost hope when everything he owned was stripped away.
Or if the Israelites lost hope after 40 years of wondering.
I imagine so.
I think it's okay to lose hope occasionally, but I think one thing to always remember is
NEVER GIVE UP!
If Joseph would have just gave up while in jail, he would have never interpreted Pharaoh's dreams, and he would have never became second in command.
If Job would have gave up on God he would have never been blessed with twice as much as he had before.
If the Israelites would have given up after 13 years they would have never seen the promise land.
God's timing is better than ours.
It may never make sense.
It may seem hopeless.
But God is bigger than that.
I remember seeing this picture of what we see at ground level, but what God sees up above.
His view is better than ours.
He is the beginning and the end and the author of our story.
Stop trying to take over and let God be God!
He has enough hope for all of us.
