"The difficult moments arrived and I found that I needed to persevere, and learn to climb out of tough spots. I needed to call out to God for strength, and determination." Kathy Spampinato

 It is a reality that we love the good times when all is right with our world. We are happy, content with our circumstances, and see a bright future ahead. Our relationships are fulfilling and stable, and we cannot believe our joy. During those times of blessing, we revel in our good fortune, and imagine that life will always be this good. Oh, we realize that difficulties do come in life, but we won’t have any real trouble with them. Our life is just that good!

I felt this way, like many newlyweds, when I was first married. I was floating on the emotional high of being loved by God and my husband, and thought our lives were perfect. Nothing could touch the blessing or challenge the happiness. And then of course, the challenges came. The difficult moments arrived and I found that I needed to persevere, and learn to climb out of tough spots. I needed to call out to God for strength, and determination. I needed to develop the fruit of the Spirit that my character was lacking. It was time to grow up, and it was a shock to the system: a surprise I was not prepared for.

It is a reality that we grow through the difficult and challenging moments of life. In the gym we do not gain strength by enjoying a game with no challenge. When we are floating on the high of blessings and are enjoying the peace, we have no need to stretch ourselves. We do not need to struggle through and develop muscle in the good times. The euphoria of ease does not prepare us for the battles to come. God does have a plan however. When life gets tough His love is there. He brings strength to the weak. Let’s look to scriptures for insight.

Isaiah 40: 28-31 ESV “Have you not known? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength. Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted; but they that wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.”

Do you need a reminder that your God loves you? Do you realize He is there when you have no strength? Have you ever cried out to God in a difficult time? Remember when He was there for you in the past? He provides strength. He provides insight and the wisdom you don’t have within yourself. You can come out of the trial stronger and more confident in God. He is the source of your strength and growth. Trust Him again today!

Psalm 81:1 says, “Sing aloud to God our strength; shout for joy to the God of Jacob!”  

Psalm 84:1-3, 5, 7-8, 10a “How lovely is your dwelling place, O Lord of hosts! My soul longs, yes, faints for the courts of the Lord; my heart and flesh sing for joy to the living God.

Blessed are those whose strength is in you, in whose heart are the highways to Zion. They go from strength to strength; each one appears before God in Zion. O Lord of hosts, hear my prayer; give ear, O God of Jacob! For a day in your courts is better than a thousand elsewhere.”

We can choose to bless the Lord and enter into worship during the tough times, and our souls will respond with joy and trust. We can enter into His presence and gain all that we need to meet the challenges we are facing. We can learn to trust Him in the midst of the battle for peace of mind. He is the Lord who provides wisdom and direction for us, and loves us.

I want to admonish you to seek God in your need. Do not struggle through difficulty on your own. He has made provision for you and is trustworthy. I leave you with this final verse.

Psalm 68:35 “Awesome is God from his sanctuary; the God of Israel – he is the one who gives power and strength to his people. Blessed be God!”