There is no doubt that life is hard. If you are an observer of people (Watch them closely) you will discover that most people are exhausted. Life wears people out. On the top of endless demands of working a job, maintaining relationships, taking care of a home, or raising children, there are unexpected challenges.
Yesterday I lost an old friend from aggressive cancer. He was diagnosed about 3 weeks ago. The doctor told him he had about a year to live. The church and I have been praying for God to not let him suffer, and to take him home. His wife needs strength to move on with her life. After 33 years it won’t be an easy path. Right now she is exhausted taking care of a dying man is hard. Along with the emotional stress she’s a mess right now.
When you are exhausted, when you feel like you can’t go on, when your on empty -where di you find strength?
When we know strength is available in God for living through difficult times. It helps. The Prophet Isaiah wrote in 40:29 that, “He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.” God has promised that he will give us the necessary strength that we need for our lives. We simply need to connect with Him to receive it.
Jesus explained this perfectly in John 15:5. He says,
“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and i in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.”
To sum it up, the life-giving power that is in Jesus will flow into our lives as we start connected to Him. When we remain in Him, our lives will produce much fruit. Supernatural fruit. As you connect to God, you will be able to do things that are beyond your power. You will be able to keep your composure when stressful situations arise or you receive bad news, you will be able to forgive someone who hurt you or someone you love. You will be able to receive criticism without getting defensive. You will have patience and kindness with difficult people. You will even be able to rise above temptation and sin. And anger will no longer control you.
As I write this, I look back to my past experiences and the things I’ve done and think “If only God was in my life then.” The thing is I was so mean and angry I wouldn’t have allowed Him to come into my life anyway.
In Matthew 14, Peter does something miraculous. He walked on water. How did he do it? He had his eyes locked on Jesus. He fully trusted in the power of Jesus, and he was able to do what no other human could ever do -or had ever done since.
But then, he messed up. He took his focus off Jesus and focused on the storm and he became afraid and began to sink, he cried out, “Lord save me!” Of course, Jesus saved him, but not without a rebuke, Jesus says, ye of little faith, why did you doubt?
You can trust God is going to help you meet the demands of reality. You can’t do it on your own. He is here for you. You just need to trust Him. Psalm 28:7 says “The Lord isn’t strength and my shield; my heart trusts in Him, and He helps me.”
In John 8:31-32 Jesus told His disciples, “If you hold onto my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free. The Word of God is a spiritual force in and of itself. It is powerful. It transforms you by changing how you understand and receive all that happens to you. Your life produces all kinds of fruit because the Word of God is doing things in you. Psalm 1 shows us the result if we stay in the Word.
“Blessed is the man who doesn’t walk in the counsel of the wicked, not stand on the path of sinners, not sit in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the Lord’s law. On His Bible He meditates day and night. He will be like a tree planted by the streams of water, that produces its fruit in its season, whose leaf also does not wither. What ever he does will prosper” -Psalm 1:1-3.
The reason there is fruit on their tree and their leaves never wither is because of the effects of the Word or God in their life. There is strength. The Word of God sinks the root into our lives in to the “living water” of Jesus. The words of Jesus nourish and strengthen the life of such a person.
Something powerful happens in your life when you choose to Obey God. He said that it would lead to a life that is strong and steady. He described a life of obedience as a life built on a rock,
Everyone therefore who hears these words of mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man, who built his house on a rock” – Matthew 7:23-24.
Life ‘on the rock” is a life of strength and power. It’s a life that can withstand the pressures and difficulties that come your way. I cannot explain how it works, but here’s what I think. Perhaps when we obey Jesus, God sees that he has a person that He can work with. So He chooses to get behind that person and give them the resources necessary to accomplish His will. Whether I’m correct of not what remains true is God gives His power and strength to those who obey His word.
Life is hard. It can be exhausting. We need God’s strength and power. All we need to do is connect to Him through trusting Him, taking in His Word, and obeying what He says. The choice is yours. Try it and see what happens.
From Pity to Praise 