Strengthen yourself in the LORD!

I've recently gone through a rough season. If you ask me, I might still be walking in it. This season has been way too long. But I'm sure we can all say that at one time or another some of our seasons have lasted way longer than we would have wanted. And sometimes we stay in a season longer than we should have of our own free will. But I say that very compassionately, no judgement here since I've been there.

Whatever the case is, this previous season has been way too long for me. I must admit there have been some sweet moments and I'm grateful to GOD that HE's allowed me to be able to even recognize them! But geez! I'm so ready to go into a new one! A new season filled with lots of peace, joy, fruitfulness, and happiness! And if I'm honest, I think it's coming! I think it's right around the corner! But if it's not, it's got to be closer than further away, right?!

"So let's not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don't give up." Galatians 6:9 (NLT) 

This is a verse I learned as a little girl but never did I EVER think I would need to hold on to it and meditate on it as long as I have. It's definitely easier said than done! Especially, when you've been disappointed too many times, you've hit a wall over and over again. And even experienced closed doors repeatedly. 

As you may have read in my previous blog, I recently went through a break up on top of it all. But before you feel sorry for me. I'd like to interject by saying that the break up itself went pretty smoothly. It was the best break up I've ever had...the only one I've ever had. LOL! But truthfully, it was one of the best break ups if there ever was one. However, regardless of how smooth it was it did hurt for so many reasons. But I remember as soon as it happened I felt disappointed yet again! I felt like my heart was sick. As the verse goes... "Hope deferred makes the heart sick..." Proverbs 13:12 (NLT) I feel like I've been crying for the last 4 years straight! I've had a few losses of family members very dear to me and now another loss. A heart's desire, a hope, a dream, a friend. "Ahhh, enough is enough!", I told GOD. I went through all the feels. I realized it's important to go through them but more importantly to bring them to GOD and go through them with HIM. And when my feelings said, "I can't do this anymore" I heard the HOLY SPIRIT remind me that "I Can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." Philippians 4:13 (NKJV) And though I recognize that HIS Word is true it still doesn't take the pain away at least not right away. I still have to process and/or journey with it. Like I said, it's easier said than done and I know we all know that. But what I do want to add, is that the more we are reminded, hear, and speak HIS Word, the more our mind is renewed then comes the renewed strength itself. The power of the HOLY SPIRIT to comfort us and speak LIFE into us. 

As the disappointment set in, I was reminded almost immediately of the story of David in 1 Samuel 30 where he and his men came back home to Ziklag and found that it was completely destroyed. It had been burned to the ground. And all their wives and children were taken captive. Geez! If anyone needed a break or a win it was David. If you read his story he was anointed to be King at a young age but the journey to the kingdom wasn't easy! In fact, it was pretty crazy hard but despite all of his troubles. He kept going! Even when it felt like it was hopeless! I mean the men wanted to stone him as if it was his fault. Regardless, it says, that David strengthened himself in the LORD and then inquired of the LORD. And the LORD told him go ahead I got you. Let's stop for a second, and think about the fact that David strengthened himself in the LORD, whoa! In some translations I think it says, he encouraged himself in the LORD. If that wasn't hard enough, he then inquired of the LORD. How can he trust GOD after so many years of hurt and disappointment? But he did, and GOD spoke and told him to go ahead and rescue his people. HE didn't let fear creep in or bitterness or resentment. He went as the LORD directed him and of course, that's exactly what happened. He rescued the people with GOD's help. But what gets even cooler than that is that if you keep reading the story, not long after he rescues his people (drum roll please) he FINALLY becomes king of Judah! Finally!! A win!! Go head GOD! Go head King David! 

Forgive me for not moving on from this idea that David was yet again in another situation where he could've said, "Nope, I'm done with this!" He could've opted to throw a pity party for himself or worse yet complain and blame GOD in a situation that was so crucial, a fork in the road that unbeknownst to him was gearing him up to his destiny. But he didn't do any of that, instead he decided to encourage himself in the LORD and then inquired of HIM. And at just the right time, he reaped the harvest of blessing!

GOD tells us in HIS Word to look at the prophets of old and the apostles to take encouragement. So, if you're going through something really hard and can't see how it'll turn out. Strengthen yourself in the LORD and inquire of HIM and trust HIM. And don't give up! Remember we're in good company! Maybe just like King David our destiny that GOD has promised us is FINALLY just right around the corner! GOD Bless!