The Struggle is Real

1 Samuel 17:32 “David said to Saul, ‘Let no one lose heart on account of this Philistine; your servant will go and fight him.’” ESV

Today I struggled on the elliptical. My husband was leaving for an overnight business trip, and have I mentioned….I’m bored here? I wanted to see him off, yet I knew that in order to get everything accomplished for the day that I needed to get my workout done early. I did my running, lifted my weights, did my cycling, and all I had left to do was 20 minutes on the elliptical. Around minute 2 though, I started the bargaining in my head…

”I’ve done enough.”

“I can make it up tomorrow.”

“I’m tired.”

“Last night we jumped for an hour at the trampoline park. That had to have burned off some calories.”

The struggle was real. Every day it seems that I have bargaining conversations with myself. Some days it’s a physically challenging for me to keep on keeping on with my workout. Every day a new excuse pops into my head, telling me that I really don’t need to complete this. And even when I’m feeling on top of the work physically, a mental battle ensues telling me that I just don’t have enough time to complete this. There is just too much to do. When I start a new challenge or a new exercise, I tell myself that I just am not strong enough to do this. I just can’t do it. When I’m side by side on the treadmill line with an athletic jock sprinting while I’m jogging at my comfortable 4.5, I tell myself I’m not good enough and I must look completely stupid. The struggle is real…but it’s only mental.

I’ve often thought about the story of David and Goliath and what made David so much better than the other thousands of Israelites who could’ve done the exact same thing as David...and much more quickly. Every day for 40 days, the Israelites would line up to face the Philistines only to hear Goliath taunt them every single day. The Israelites were afraid. Saul was afraid. Every day it seemed that their confidence was fading just a little bit more.

And then comes David. David wasn’t really there to fight. He was just sent on an errand by his father and realized what was happening. He had confidence. He knew that if he could fight a bear and a lion in order to save his sheep that he could face a mere man. But the true source of his confidence was revealed in v. 37, “The LORD who rescued me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will rescue me from the hand of this Philistine.”

The Lord was able. And because the Lord was able…David was able.

The struggle is real when we face challenges of life. They may be physical challenges. But they may be financial challenges. They may be relationship challenges. They may be vocational or educational challenges. But God is able. And because God is able….we are able.

The same God that’s delivered us time and time again will deliver us now. He’s still the same God today that delivered the giant Goliath into the hands of a little shepherd boy.

What challenges do you face today? Are you focusing on the circumstance while your fear deepens day by day? Or are you focusing on the track record of Almighty God?

Encouragement for Today

2 Corinthians 12:9 “But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you. For my power is made perfect in weakness. Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.’” ESV

Phillippians 4:19 “And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.” ESV

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Waiting

Isaiah 40:31, “…they who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.” NIV

I’ve heard it said, “Until God opens the next door, praise Him in the hallway.” Well, I’m in the hallway. The fact is, I’m waiting outside the door that He’s already revealed that He’s going to open. I have confirmation, and steps have been taken. Now that I think about it, in reality, the door is already open, but we’re just not through it all the way…yet.

My husband has been promoted, we’re moving to Arkansas, we’ve sold our house in Mississippi, and we’re living in corporate housing while my husband trains for his new position in Alabama. Yes, it’s confusing to me too.  My husband’s time is filled with appointments, conference calls, meetings, business trips, and general stuff I don’t know anything about. But the kids and me…we’re pretty bored. We don’t know anybody here, and it’s sooo incredibly hot. It’s so hot that it’s miserable. The last thing any of us wants to do is go outside.  The bright side, though, is the gym in this apartment complex. I could go on and on for days at the luxury of having a gym on site! It’s so incredibly nice, and apparently, no one else here is concerned about their health, because I typically have it all to myself!

But I’m lonely. Loneliness is just that…lonely. While I’ve been disciplined with my exercise and for the most part, with my nutrition, I’ve been depressed in my spirit. It’s not healthy. If my emotions and spiritual life isn’t on track, I’m not healthy.

And so we wait. At this moment, we’re on day 9 of a 30-day arrangement, and time seems to be only creeping by. We’ve exhausted all of the appropriate movies that are playing in the theatre, and we’ve visited a few free museums in the area. But we’re running out of options. We’ve attended a local church for worship both Sundays we’ve been here, but it seems utterly pointless to put forth much effort into building any sort of relationship because we’ll be leaving soon. What’s a girl to do? How do I stay healthy, both in body and spirit while I’m waiting in the hallway?

I’m a person that thrives in a fast-paced environment. I make quick decisions, and I’m a quick learner. I like to keep busy too, because it seems to give me a feeling of accomplishment. When I’m not busy, I tend to get depressed, feeling that I’m not being productive and contributing anything of value. But when it gets too hectic, I get frazzled easily and cave to stress.

Today, I told God all about it. And He responded. He’s faithful to do that. He brought to my mind Isaiah 40:31. In this chapter, Israel is complaining. They’re, in a way, accusing God of not listening too. And He responds to them as well. Wait. It’s very simple, but He reminds them of who He really is, and His power that He provides to us. “He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. But those who wait on the Lord will renew their strength.”

Could it be that God has given me this time to simply rest? It’s a time that I normally would never take on my own, and so God has purposely provided a time for me to simply soak up His goodness and prepare me for the next chapter of life.  The last few weeks before we sold our house were so frantic that I would go to bed at night and cry from the stress. God has given me this time to force me to be still, and all I’m wanting to do is join the fast-paced world once again.

But God wants to provide new strength. His purposes for me are perfect, and this new chapter of life promises to reveal His plan in my life. Instead of struggling against the God-given reign, I choose to joyfully walk in line with it. When life throws its stressors and frantic times my way, which it always does, I can face it with renewed energy and strength, knowing that He has equipped me.

Where are you in life right now? Maybe you’re like me and are praising Him in the hallway. Maybe you’ve just started a new chapter and need His renewed strength. Or maybe you’re at the end of a chapter and need fresh wings on which to soar.

He has promised to help you.

Encouragement for Today

Psalm 27:13-14 “I remain confident of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.” NIV

Lamentations 3:25 “The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him; it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord.” NIV

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