Pressing On

"It is worth everything to press on, determined to know Christ, to have confidence in Him and in His love for us."  Kathy Spampinato

There are times in life, when things get tough, and we’re tempted to give up and look for an easy out. Despite what you’ve seen in advertising, there is no easy button. Circumstances can leave us feeling pressured, abandoned, and with no obvious options. The Bible tells us that in these difficult moments, “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” (Psalm 46:1) I often declare this verse for myself and over myself. I am determined to turn to God as my source in all things: in blessing and in trial, because I know Him as faithful.

The apostle Paul (formerly called Saul) talks about having every reason to have confidence in his flesh, because of his family heritage, his education, and his determination. He had everything going for him. When Jesus reveals himself, He asks, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” Paul found himself on the wrong side of the battle. He was persecuting Christians, and realized he was opposing God himself. That was his wakeup call. Let’s continue to read Paul’s story.

Philippians 3:8b-10a, 13b-14 ESV “For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith- that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, … But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”

When life feels difficult and pressured, we can learn from Paul’s example. It is worth everything to press on, determined to know Christ, to have confidence in Him and in His love for us. The goal is the high calling of Christ to be His and to represent Him in this world. There will be difficulty and trial on the road, but we have the Holy Spirit enabling us to persevere.

2 Timothy 3:1 “But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having the appearance of godliness but denying its power. Avoid such people.”

Have you met some people like this? Does our time and our culture sound like this? We are certainly closer to the end times than any generation before us. Rather than despair and give up, let’s look to God to meet our needs, to give us direction, and supply all that we need for life and godliness. He has the answers to our questions and the guidance for our situation.

Jesus talked about sending the Holy Spirit to be our advocate and guide.

John 16:12-13 “I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak and he will declare to you the things to come.”

John 14:16-17, 26 “And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you. But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.”

When life gets tough and your situation seems unbearable, remember you have a guide and comforter in the Holy Spirit. Call out to God today, and the Holy Spirit will speak to your heart. He will lead you and bring you strength, truth and direction. He is with you.