The Struggle is Real......but, so is God!

This is Thanksgiving week and I know that many are not looking for paper to write down all your blessings. Not when you’re feeling like you’re six feet under the load and you don’t have a shovel to dig yourself out. From having been there, I know the struggle is very real. I know how it feels when someone like ME now, who has such irrepressible optimism to find good in everything, can be like salt in our wounds. I am well acquainted with both sides. I remember the times when I had the “life sucks” mindset! It is inevitable. We WILL have some gloomy days instead of all sunshine, all-is-well days. Usually, my blogs champion others to think and say: “Everything’s gonna’ be alright.” (My grandson is playing that song in the background right now!) Thank you, God, for the confirmation that I’m hearing from you as I type this blog today. I'm not going to tell you that if you suck it up, the pain stops or disappears. Life really can be difficult for nearly every person who walks this earth. Even so, we can’t let ourselves hang out there. We MUST count our blessings. Being miserable won't end our troubles. The good news is we have a Savior Who could have said: “Life sucks!” Well, maybe He did, in a way, when He asked the Father in Matthew 26:39: "Going on a little farther, He fell on His face, praying, “My Father, if possible, let this cup pass from me! Yet, not what I want, but what You want!” And, yes, He suffered and died for our peace. And, He encouraged us in John 16:33: “I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I HAVE OVERCOME the world.” God sees us and is acquainted with the loneliness of our desert. He sees us and is acquainted with the pain we suffer. He also sees and knows our struggles. AND He knows the good that comes from the struggles. Struggles develop our character, compassion, fortitude, and wisdom in us that cannot be gained any other way. Jesus -- the greatest and most humble man Who walked the face of this earth knew unparalleled struggles and He is the One Who continually tells us "You CAN do this life, too!" Today He urges us to hold tightly to God’s unchanging hand and remember His Word when we are in the struggles. He loves us too much to leave us there. His Word tells us: "Cast your burden upon the LORD and He will sustain you; He will never allow the righteous to be shaken." (Psalm 55:22) “For I am the LORD your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, ‘Do not fear; I will help you.’” (Isaiah 41:13) “Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you.” (1 Peter 5:7) “When I am afraid, I put my trust in You.” (Psalm 56:3) Sometimes the Lord allows difficult seasons that offer no answers or solutions so we might find ourselves completely submitted to Him, trusting in His care, dependent on His leading. He promises us that His Word is our lifeline. In struggles, God draws our hearts to His when we have nowhere to run and nobody else to hear us but Him. Let's keep in mind -- we’re still writing our stories, while God is still working on the “dream come true” ending of our story. God is good -- ALL the time! ALL the time -- God is good! “Weeping may last for the night, but joy comes in the morning.” Psalm 30:5