This past summer was not my favorite. I hope it’s okay to say that. I certainly don’t want to hurt summer’s feelings. But from start to finish, it was sort of an overachiever with the hard stuff. First, I broke my foot (I believe we’ve discussed that), and then there was a certain situation that was causing me a considerable amount of emotional distress (vague, I know, but it’s the best I can do), and then, at the end of June, my mama died.
Oh, my mama. Y’all. I’m still not ready to write about that. We’ll talk about her later though. Promise.
But when she died? Well, go ahead and prepare yourself for an understatement: I was really sad.
If you had asked me in mid-May, I would have told you that summer was going to be so awesome! And there was going to be big fun! And we were going to make the best memories! Instead, though, summer came in like an angry tide. It was one wave of heartache after another.
And it’s just a guess, but you’ve probably had times in your life that felt the same way. Maybe it was a parent losing a job followed by a broken friendship. Maybe it was difficulty in school followed by a challenging sports season. Maybe it was a frustrating health issue followed by constant conflict with your boyfriend.
So when one angry tide after another keeps knocking you over, what do you do?
Here’s what: you hold on to Jesus, and you get back up again.
YES, MA’AM.
After all, we need not forget that in the middle of our hardships, we still have victory in Christ (Romans 8:38–39). John 16:33 says this: “I have told you these things so that in me you may have peace. You will have suffering in this world. Be courageous! I have conquered the world.”
We have hope even when life gets hard.
If there’s a biblical poster child for tough times, it’s Job. He lost his money, his possessions, his family, his friends, and his health. (Honestly, Job’s life makes my summer look like a vacation.) But even in the middle of his pain, Job didn’t give up and he didn’t lose faith. He knew Who held his victory. In Job 19:25 he said, “For I know that my Redeemer lives, and at the last he will stand upon the earth” (esv).
Isn’t that good news? WE HAVE A REDEEMER. And when we go through trials, He continues to shower us with grace upon grace: His peace, His comfort, His people, His Word. In the Lord we can find peace even when we don’t love our circumstances. We may lose a few battles along the way, but He has won the war.
You are a daughter of the Most High King. You are a warrior. You are more than a conqueror (Romans 8:37). That angry tide has nothing on who you are in Him. Grab hold of your Savior, and get up again.
You can do it.
1. What’s the angry tide in your life right now? What’s threatening to knock you down?
2. Has there ever been a time in your life when you felt defeated? What did the Lord teach you through that?
3. Do you have friends or family members who are in an especially difficult season right now? Make a list, and at some point in the next week, write them notes of encouragement. The Lord will use your words to comfort them and remind them of His love.
4. What verses remind you of the strength you have in Jesus? Write them out here.
Today’s Prayer