Weak part 2
There are times in your life when you will feel absolutely powerless. Times when you feel like you can't handle what life is throwing at you. Times when you feel like giving up. Times when you feel like you're at the end of your rope. Like you've given it everything you've got... and you've got nothing else left to give. But I'm here to say, when you feel like you're at the end of your rope... tie a knot in it and hold on! If you go down swinging... you might not go down at all. Look at 1 Corinthians 10:13, "There hath no tempation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it." A couple key things here: "Temptation" is number 3985 in Strong's Greek Concordance and it means, "a putting to proof by experiment [of good], experience [of evil]." And Dictionary.com defines "Tempation" as "something that tempts." Which, I guess, makes sense. What we're looking at is kind of the forbidden fruit though, right? The idea that even though all things are lawful, that doesn't mean all things are expedient. We can do whatever we want, but that doesn't mean we should. And when we get into that situation where we feeling weak... that's when God makes that way to escape. Which is the send thing I wanted to really focus on. Because an escape doesn't always mean the situation just disappears. "That ye might be able to bear it." Sometimes we "escape" from things by bearing them. By understanding that it came to pass, not to stay. By understanding that a lot of the time, the only way through... is through. There's always a light at the end of the tunnel. And it's not always a freight train coming your way. I think, really, it's a matter of perspective. Because even in our definition of "tribulation" we see that there is an element of good. Experimenting in order to find some good. What we get out of situations a lot of the time is what we TAKE out of situations. Every cloud has a silver lining, right? We can learn and grow no matter what is going on around us. And, in fact, learning and growing is WHY we go through things a lot of the time. I think there are two reasons why we go through things: 1. To learn and grow. 2. To help others through those same types of things. Because we all go through the same stuff. Life. It's distinctly personal but also very universal. The human experience. And here's the best part: When you are feeling weak, when you are feeling powerless, you don't have to go through "it" alone. Whatever it is. There are people in your life who may have been through what you're going through. And they can help you through it. And if you can't find a person to do it, well, God Himself will strengthen you. His strength is made perfect in your weakness. He is faithful. He will not suffer you to be tempted beyond what you are able. He won't give you more than you can handle. You were made for a time like this. Put in position to unleash God into whatever situation you find yourself in. By letting what's inside come out. By knowing and believing that it (HE, love) is in there. Letting His strength--the strength of love--come out. In ever and any situation you find yourself, or the people you are connected to, in!