“I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.”
(John 16:33, NLT)
“The typical view of the Christian life is that it means being delivered from all adversity. But it actually means being delivered in adversity, which is something very different.
If you are a child of God, you will certainly encounter adversities, but Jesus says you should not be surprised when they come.
God does not give us overcoming life – He gives us life as we overcome. The strain of life is what builds our strength. If there is no strain, there will be no strength … God never gives us strength for tomorrow, or for the next hour, but only strain for the moment … a saint can “be of good cheer” even when seemingly defeated by adversities, because victory is absurdly impossible to everyone but God.”
(Oswald Chambers, My Utmost For His Highest, August 2)
Today I am joining … Scripture & a Snapshot and Sunday Scripture Blessings .
Oh, how I needed to read this today! Thank you, Joanne, for being a constant voice of God’s encouragement to me.
Grateful for overcoming power in Christ! Oh, how we need him!
There are definitely trials and sorrows and some awesome days in our life as we overcome. Praying always in thanksgiving for the gifts.
Yes, He is always with us. Instead of asking, “Why me?”, let us learn to say, “Lord, I know You will work this challenge. Show me how to be a blessing to someone during this time.” Thank you for such a beautiful reminder.
Love this: “ The strain of life is what builds our strength.” We have evidences of this in nature. I’ve read that if you try to “help” a butterfly get out of its cocoon, it will die. It gains strength from that struggle. I’m usually longing to get out of my trials quickly, but I need to see them as God’s exercise program.
We surely are in need of his overcoming power and his strength to get us through.