Life doesn’t always turn out the way we plan it. We have our ideas, our goals, our dreams, and our plans. We talk about what we will do in the next stage of our lives. We think about slowing down at some point in the future. We’ve got it all figured out. Then BOOM!
Out of nowhere, life throws you a curveball when you are expecting a fastball right down the middle of the plate, and it slams you in the face.
In one instant, our lives can be changed forever. All of our plans can be smashed, all of our dreams can be crushed, and the direction of our path can be altered dramatically.
Not only have I experienced it personally, but I also hear about it from preachers seemingly every day. A doctor’s visit reveals that you have cancer or heart disease. Your wife learns that her cancer has returned. A child informs you that they no longer believe what they were taught. Your elders tell you that you are not working out, and they have decided to go a different direction. A “forever” friend betrays you. Your sweet wife is overtaken by cancer, and she passes.
Oh My. What do we do now? Has God lost His power? Are we being punished because of something we’ve done that is sinful? Will we ever be able to feel good about life again?
There have been times in my life, several times, when I needed to hear these words. These loving words from the Holy Spirit have helped me keep going during some of the darkest days of my life. I pray that they will help you today and remind you that you are loved by a God who will never leave or forsake you.
“But we have this treasure in earthen containers, so that the extraordinary greatness of the power will be of God and not from ourselves; weare afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not despairing; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying around in the body the dying of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. For we who live are constantly being handed over to death because of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our mortal flesh.” (2 Cor. 4:7-11)
“What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things? Who will bring charges against God’s elect? God is the one who justifies; who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is He who died, but rather, was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us. Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will tribulation, or trouble, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? Just as it is written: “For Your sake we are killed all day long; We were regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.” But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Rom. 8:31-39)
