Encouraging Word
Life has its ups and downs, its good days and bad days. As we travel life’s journey, we will climb to the mountain top and travel through the valleys. Even though we would like to be we are not exempt or excused from the adversity and challenges that life brings. As we experience life, we will at times struggle, stumble, suffer, need to sacrifice, and surrender. We must learn how to respond to these different situations along the way.
Struggle. Life has its struggles. Struggling is to strive to attain something in the face of difficulty or resistance. In John 16:33, Jesus said, “In the world you have tribulation but take courage; I have overcome the world.”
Stumble. As you go through life, there will be times you will stumble. Stumbling is to trip or lose momentum or to make a mistake. In I John 2:1, the Apostle John writes that if we do sin (stumble), we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ. Our responsibility is to repent, get up, and keep going.
Suffer. Unfortunately, in life, suffering is unavoidable. Suffering is to experience something unpleasant or to be in a state of continued difficulty. I am learning that suffering has its place. Romans 5:3-5 tells us that suffering leads to perseverance, proven character, and hope.
Sacrifice. As you travel life’s journey, on occasion there will be a need to sacrifice. Sacrificing is the act of giving up something valued for the sake of something else regarded as more important. Romans 12:1 says, “…to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.” We need to sacrifice selfishness for holy living.
Surrender. To be successful in life, we need to learn how to surrender. Surrendering is to submit to authority. In Matthew 16:24, Jesus said, “…If anyone wishes to come after Me, let him deny (surrender) himself, and take up his cross and follow Me.” We need to follow Jesus’ example and surrender our will to God’s will!
As we travel life’s road, we will struggle, stumble, suffer, sacrifice, and surrender. Apostle Paul sums it up in 2 Corinthians 4:16, “Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day.”
-Tony Cooper
Director Emeritus of Jimmie Hale Mission
