What is your wrestle?

8-13-2020

I am going to take a minute to just be real, but also maybe share encouragement for others having "one of those days" as well.

I woke around 2 in the morning with intense back pain that would keep me awake for an hour or two. I manage to go back to sleep to wake with a horrific migraine that I fought all day to control and baby along. I would then be presented with one thing after another that would only turn out to be a disappointment. The intense anxiety I dealt with would dare to have a contest staring me in the face. My rights as an individual would be challenged and still are.

How many times do we seem to get a breakthrough on something for satan to come beating on the back door to see if we will open the door for him? He will peer around and stare you down at any open window to see if he can get your attention. The sheer moments feeling the heaviness of the air of disappointment and challenges that can just take your breath away if you let it.

I would simply find myself being reminded to rest in the presence of the father who says he has all things in control. Even our challenges, disappointments, and frustrations. Even those things that may have to cause life-altering decisions in the near future. I would be reminded of some verses he kept bringing me back to read.

Ephesians 6:12 says For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.

Who is it and what is it I am fighting? Not my circumstances, but the principalities and forces that would try to distract and cause me to crumble. Hence the next passage I have been standing on all day in I Peter 5:8-11 that says Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. 9 Stand firm against him, and be strong in your faith. Remember that your family of believers[a] all over the world is going through the same kind of suffering you are.

10 In his kindness, God called you to share in his eternal glory by means of Christ Jesus. So after you have suffered a little while, he will restore, support, and strengthen you, and he will place you on a firm foundation. 11 All power to him forever! Amen.

Stay Alert! Stand Strong and Firm in your faith. He will RESTORE and Strengthen you! He will place you on a firm foundation.

As I would find myself caught in the moments of heaviness and disappointment, I would just continue to make a choice to continue to keep the praise and worship music going and at times specifically choose songs that would allow me to soak and just get caught up in praising God for who he is in my life. It would be these moments that would provide a sense of grounding and a breath of fresh breathable air. I can't change what goes on in the world and most of what seems to go on in my life, but I can change what I choose to do to respond to those things. Will I stay stuck and weighed in the mud or will I rest in the mud and let myself be purified in the process of learning to rest in my father's presence while in the mud.

One thing the other night opened my eyes to is how many ways Satan will try to distract and divert our attention from the work and relationship God wants for our lives. Who or what am I wrestling or am I learning to rest and trust the process?

Take courage and stand strong my friends.