When our faith in Jesus Christ is thriving, and our soul is feeling the power of the Holy Spirit pouring God’s amazing love, powerful joy, and the peace that passes understanding into our hearts and minds – LIFE IS GOOD! Our spiritual minds and hearts are renewed and we find ourselves walking, knowing, and experiencing Jesus Christ in the power of His resurrection- His glory is revealed to us and through us- we are hardened to difficulty, and nothing this world offers comes close to the pleasure and joy He gives.
Yet at other times, when we are not feeling our best, physically tired, pressed for time, concerned about those we love or disturbed about negative situations taking place- life can feel empty, fearful, and it is a struggle to keep pressing on towards pursuing the will of God’s hopes, dreams, and goals for our lives. But Paul said, “I press on toward the goal to win the supreme and heavenly prize to which God in Christ Jesus is calling us upward” (Philippians4:13). Pressing on doesn’t necessarily mean life will always feel easy, or that our God given goals will be easily defined! But what it does mean is the pressures and challenges we are going through will push us towards depending less on our natural man, and more on the Lord for help and rescue! It is here that God teaches us that we don’t have all the answers, and that “The Lord is MY shepherd, who will lead, guide, and protect me”. Whether walking through the valley of the shadow of death or resting by the still waters- I will profess “God is my power” and He will lead me in the path of righteousness, for His Name sake! I can trust my life to Him, and He will lift me up and supernaturally encourage and empower me to keep on keeping on! (Psalm23).
My dear sisters and brothers in Jesus Christ, you have a special calling on your life- a destiny to grow into- a future to discover. Paul said that the hardship he would experience in this life was not in vain, but would be used to supernaturally transform and lift him into oneness of spirit with Jesus Christ. During the struggles Paul chose to press on, and that does not mean he did not struggle – he kept pressing forward to Jesus, and the faithful Lord would come close and be His power!
So, when we go through times of struggle in our lives- let us hold true to what God has revealed to us through the Holy Spirit and in the Logos of His Word – don’t turn back- don’t keep walking in unbeneficial circles and patterns-PRESS ON- GOD IS MY POWER! Then we will discover a growing relationship with Jesus Christ- during times of extraordinary, believing, faith and during times of struggle. God’s transforming power will fulfill and accomplish the high calling God has placed on our lives-He is able to keep HIS Covenant!