You Can Do Hard Things

You can do hard things. 

 

 

 

Let's clarify that a little more.

 

 

 

Through Jesus, with Jesus, because Jesus - you can do hard things. 

 

 

 

I battle anxiety. If you look at me, you'd never know it. I call it a battle because sometimes it wins, and other times I win. So let's be honest about it. 

 

 

 

I pray, I believe the Word of God, I rebuke demonic spirits, I believe because of Jesus Christ I am healed, I meditate and pray scripture-

 

 

 

 But I still battle anxiety. 

 

 

 

*Steps on soapbox*

 

Your faith is not broken because you struggle. I can't explain why some people are delivered from certain ailments and others not. There is a God, and I'm not Him. But I can tell you that your faith is NOT broken.

 

 

 

 "Well, you just need to pray more and believe more" is NOT an appropriate response to a brother or sister in the middle of a struggle, MMMMKKKKKKAAAYYYYYY. 

 

*Steps off soapbox*

 

 

 

I remember my husband and I talking about what I could "put down" to help me destress. I don't know about your family, but if Mama is stressed, it manifests throughout the whole family. 

 

 

 

After thinking and praying on it for a while, I came to this conclusion:

 

 

 

The Lord called me to this. I know - KNOW - I'm supposed to be doing all these things. I'm not at peace about putting any of these things down. 

 

 

 

Have you ever been there? Knowing the Lord has called you to the Red Sea, but it's not parting. So here you are in some crazy, heart-breaking, impossible situation that you're sure (or maybe not so sure) the Lord has called you to. 

 

 

 

Can I tell you something??

 

 

 

Even in your crazy, heart-breaking, impossible situation - the Lord is with you. 

 

 I'm thankful the Lord isn't scared of our complicated problems. 

 

 

 

 The Bible tells us over and over and over again that the Lord will not leave us or forsake us. 

 

 The Lord God will be with us wherever we go. 

 

 Do not be afraid or discouraged. 

 

(Read Joshua 1)

 

 

 

AGAIN: Your faith isn't broken because you struggle against this flesh. 

 

It's what you do in the struggle. That's where your growth is going to come from.

 

 

 

Insanity: Doing the same thing over and over again, expecting different results.

 

 

 

When you come face to face with your Red Sea, and it's not parting, here are *some* things you can do. 

 

 

 

1. Pray your way through it. Sometimes we need a new perspective. Pray for a new mindset, to see things the way the Lord does. 

 

 

 

2. Watch your mouth - don't speak curses about your situation. Speak Life! The power of life and death is in the tongue. For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of. (Luke 6:45)

 

 What you say, matters friend. 

 

 

 

The storm may rage, you may have to tread water, it will probably look scary, you may get sore and tired...

 

 

 

But 

 

 

 

Don't give up. 

 

 

 

It may seem impossible - but our God - I believe He likes impossible odds. 

 

 

 

Oh - and this is pretty important…

 

 

 

3. REACH OUT FOR HELP 

 

    You don't have to do this alone. 

 

 

 

My anxiety was steadily getting worse. I would shake, my heart would race, I wasn't sleeping, I didn't like who I was. 

 

 

 

I remember sitting in front of my doctor with tears in my eyes explaining how I am a person of faith and prayer, and yet I need help with this anxiety. I felt and believed my faith was broken because I needed help. 

 

 

 

Y'all.

 

 

 

It shouldn't be this way. 

 

 No person should sit ashamed in a doctor's office asking for help because well-meaning Christians have told them, "you should pray more, and the Lord will heal you." 

 

*Facepalm* 

 

 

 

If that has happened to you - I am so sorry. It happened to me too. 

 

 

 

After a mix of scheduled rest time, medication, and continued prayer, I am doing better. I feel like I can breathe again. I don't have a hurricane of unsettling, uncontrollable emotions anymore. I feel good. 

 

 

 

Glory to God. HALLELUJAH. 

 

 

 

Maybe your situation is a broken relationship

 

 A financial mountain that is impossible to climb

 

 A terrible diagnosis

 

A great, great loss that has not just left a hole in your life, but it feels like your whole heart is completely shattered

 

 

 

My heart hurts with you. I AM SORRY.

 

 

 

Don't give up. Talk to the Lord about it. You don't have to pray immaculate prayers. Just communicate with Him. Tell Him. The Creator of the universe and everything in it wants to hear from you. Your situation isn't too big or too small. 

 

 

 

 And this is a hard pill to swallow -- but there are just things we won't have an answer to on this side of heaven. I have my list of "but why God" too. 

 

 

 

Let me pray over you before you go… 

 

 

 

Lord, thank you for the person reading this. 

 

 I don't know their name, their story, their heartbreak, their ups, and downs, but You do. 

 

 You have not left them or forsaken them. 

 

 I pray that they would see and feel Your presence in their life. 

 

 I pray for a renewed strength to rise up within them—a new mindset. 

 

 I pray that they will have a heart to forgive others and themselves. 

 

 I speak peace - Your Peace - to their mind and heart, Lord. 

 

 We ask that you would make a way where there seems to be no way. 

 

 Please show those hurting who to reach out to. 

 

 Remind them that they're not alone. 

 

 Show those around them how to be the hands and feet of Christ to them. 

 

 It's not over until You say it's over. 

 

 I love you, Lord, in Jesus' name, Amen