Strength From the Depths

Today I was reading an old journal of mine from a time in my life that was very hurtful and dark. It was necessary for me to depend completely on The Lord for my emotional strength. My sorrow was so great, and my sense of alone-ness was so deep. All I can say is that it was only in HIM that I emerged stronger, and more victorious than I was when I went in to that time.  Now, I fondly look back on that time in my life as a time of great growth. Amazing right?  Jesus walked so closely with me during it.  He was truly sustaining me. He has promised to be with us during those times and I am living proof that he is faithful to that word. 

Here is an excerpt from that journal. (I apologize for the length.)

 1 Corinthians 6:10 "Sorrowful, yet always rejoicing." 

I am saddened by the happenings around me. I am sorrowful that things are not going well. It breaks my heart to see it. I am sorrowful to the point of laying down and letting it overtake me. But I wont.  I wont because My Lord is strong and He is able to lift me. He says "Rejoice!" 

Not Rejoice about the actual bad thing happening, for who says "Wow, thank you that I am in such agony because someone betrayed me, or sinned against me, or hurt me?" No one says that, but God still says Rejoice. 

• Rejoice that we have his promises,
• Rejoice that No wound  can be fatal when we are saved by Christ. 
• Rejoice that he will do all things to work for good. 
• Rejoice that you are not alone. 
• Rejoice that He has found you worthy of enduring this pain-knowing that you will not break, but grow closer and more dependent on him.
• I rejoice that my Lord carries me. That He fights my battle.
• I rejoice that my pain is deep enough that I have to ask him daily to carry me because I can not do it alone. 
• I rejoice that in my weakness he is Strong.
• I rejoice that he is teaching me the GIFT of silence.
• I rejoice in the new words he gives me and that he is nearer to me than ever before.
• I rejoice at my inner peace. 
• I rejoice that the enemy has lost and that Jesus has won and because of that I have the victory and the enemy must leave in shame.
• I rejoice that God gives me just enough strength for today, because if I think of my future and I worry about what might happen I may have no strength to survive. But with today's strength and today's tasks I am powerful and able to do everything I want.
• I rejoice in my Lord who is always with me. 
• I rejoice that no one can take that away from me.
• I rejoice in HIM!! 

What a petty thing my troubles are in comparison. Even though they cut me, bruise me, and cause me all sorts of anguish, they are small when I compare them to the greatness of my God and savior. ~"Sorrowful, yet always rejoicing" ~ Praise to God Almighty the king forever, who can stand against him? Certainly not you enemy, certainly not you circumstance. Enemy you have been beaten, circumstance you have lost the war. Jesus has the Victory! Jesus has the victory!"

I don't know if you can identify with the type of season I was in when I wrote this, but I am finding strength today in my own words of faith written so long ago. Perhaps you will too. 

Thanks again for letting me share my heart today ladies!

Kari