Life is hard; one might say it’s even brutal at times.
I read about life’s afflictions in the many emails that come my way. I know that some of my friends and family members have felt the full force of life’s harshness. The afflictions and sleepless nights of my past serve as vivid reminders that life can be exceedingly painful.
But didn’t Jesus promise us an “abundant life?” Yes, He did, but He also warned that we would have trouble, or tribulation, in this life (John 16:33).
In the midst of the battles against our determined foe, we must also take into consideration that the Lord is testing our heart and preparing us for His intended purpose. In that regard, Eldredge offers these words that may not seem reassuring at first:
The story of your life is the story of the long and brutal assault on your heart by the one who knows what you could be and fears it.[2]
When the storms rage and you wonder how much longer you can keep going, remember that Jesus walked out of His tomb. The evidence is overwhelming. It’s a historical fact that His grave was empty and all attempts to explain it apart from His bodily resurrection fall far short.
Imagine you are on the back of a motorcycle going down a highway at 70 MPH. Perhaps it’s a memory for some. At such times, you hold tightly to the person driving as though your life depends on it, and it probably does.
That’s how tightly we must grasp the words of Scripture during the foreboding times that come our way.
Thank you for this Scott. J. Brentner’s articles are always comforting and encouraging.
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