How often do we feel like we have run out of steam? We feel like we cannot make it over the next hill as its shadow looms large over us weary travelers. Even as we trudge in the direction of the hill—which we know we must climb—we begin to wonder if the weight of the burden we are bearing is too much.
Will we make it?
God is the one who gives us the grace to walk through life's darkest hours.
If there are two things God makes clear in His Word, they are the facts that we cannot make it on our own and that He will help us if we call out to Him. Countless times in Scripture, we read of men and women who felt as though they had reached the end. They could not have pressed on without God giving them hope, strength, and courage. And when they called upon the Lord, He heard and answered their prayers.
While God does not promise us a life free from pain and suffering, He does promise to be our strength in our moments of greatest weakness (see 2 Corinthians 12:9). The apostle Paul suffered many afflictions while spreading the Gospel around the world. He was tortured, jailed, shipwrecked, and diseased. Yet he persevered—not because he was determined to get the Gospel out but because God gave Paul the grace to do so.
Paul writes, "Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me" (2 Corinthians 12:9). As we face hardships in life, we must remember that God is not a casual observer. He is an active participant—walking with us every step of the way. He catches us when we stumble, and He cheers us on as we pursue Him. He is the one who gives us the grace to walk through life's darkest hours.
Prayer: Lord, help me to remember that Your grace is sufficient for my struggles in life. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.
"And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work" (2 Corinthians 9:8).
Learn more in Dr. Michael Youssef's sermon The Secrets of Positive Living, Part 14: LISTEN NOW
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