It’s Worth The Pain

“Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.”

Matthew 7:14  


Reading in the book of Numbers l am reminded that though God promised a land flowing with milk and honey to the children of Israel He did not say they would possess the land without a fight. Like the children of Israel at the threshold to the promised land I too am reminded that God never said the Christian life was one of ease. In reality, Jesus promised us just the opposite when He said in John 16:33, “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” An old poem comes to mind when I think about the life of faith God has called us too. It goes something like this,

“God never promised
 a life without pain, 
 laughter without tears
 or sun without rain. 
 But He did promise
 strength for the day, 
 comfort for the tears
 and light for the way.”


Remember this today, loved one, the Christian life is not a life of ease, but it is a life of victory in Jesus. God never said the Christian life would be easy but He did promise us it can be possessed and the victory won! Not achieved as if it were by human strength, but received by faith and lived out in obedience to God. 1 Corinthians 15:57 says, “But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” Yes, loved one, you and I have been granted victory in our battles in this life because the battle is not ours but the Lord’s. Remember that the next time you feel like quitting and giving up. Don’t quit when life gets hard, friend, don’t turn your back on the difficulties this life will bring your way. Don’t ever forget, you can do hard things! Ease is not the measuring stick of our faith. Adversity is the anvil on which our faith is forged. Steel is tempered under tremendous heat. The best things in life don’t come easy, they never have nor ever will. The precious blood of Jesus Christ shed on Calvary purchased your salvation and mine. It was not easy for Jesus to go to the Cross, yet it was necessary to ensure our salvation.

The next time life gets hard and you have to choose between holding on and letting go, I want to encourage you to let go. That’s right, friend, let go and let God. Don't get me wrong here and think letting go is easy or its just doing nothing or giving up. Faith is far from nothing, as trusting and letting God have control is difficult when doing so means going against the grain of our entire way of thinking. It takes tremendous faith to trust in Jesus. Yes, loved one, the battle is the Lord’s not yours or mine. Our victory is found only in Jesus Christ and in no one or in anything else. Being born “post fall”, each of us was born into a war zone with a battle raging all around us and sometimes the intensity can overwhelm us. Its why we are reminded all through the bible to look to God and not ourselves, to put our hope and trust in God.

Do not be dismayed in the midst of your struggle, loved one, be of good cheer today, stand in and on the promises of God He declares in His Word knowing that He who called you is faithful. Remember, no matter what the situation appears to be, no matter how the odds may seem to be stacked against you, if God is for you who can stand against you? The answer is no one. The devil wants us to focus on the size of the problems we face, God has called us to set our eyes upon Him!


“Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your exceedingly great reward.”

Genesis 15:1

I LOVE YOU!

Michael Osthimer

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