Sometimes it seems like things would be so much easier if we could just give up. In the midst of the struggle; when the going gets tough; when it seems like nothing is working out in our favor, we lose sight of the big picture and get lost in the right now details.
“For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” — 2 Corinthians 4:17-18 NIV
Think of it this way...do you use Instagram or Facebook? How long have you used them? Are there years and years worth of images from your life cataloged in your feed? Have you ever gone back to the beginning and scrolled through all your posts up to today? You should try it sometime and think through where you were at in your life with each post, what struggles did you face that at the time seemed insurmountable. Even if all your pictures and captions seem to show only the happy moments, you know the truth. You know the ups and downs behind those smiles.
Don’t get stuck on any particular post. Keep scrolling through, taking in the timeline of your life it represents. When you take that step back and you see the big picture, it's easier to see how you’ve persevered. It's easier to trust that you can persevere again. You can acknowledge the blessings you never saw coming but would have never experienced if you hadn’t kept going. The experiences you had and the people you've met. Just imagine what your timeline will look like a few more years from now when the struggles you find yourself facing today are behind you. Accept that whatever you’re pushing through now, you’ll scroll back through later and be happy you kept moving forward.
Don't believe the lie that it’s easier to just give up. That's what the enemy wants you to do because God has great plans for you. Know that your struggle does have a purpose and use the lessons of your past to fuel your hope for your future.
“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.” — Hebrews 12:1-3 NIV
Comments
Jamila said:
Amen! Yes Laura, that’s what I was trying to say, but I LOVE how you put it…..“tracing the hand of God on our lives through the years.” Exactly!!
Laura Reimer said:
Love this so much. What a great way to use social media to trace the hand of God on our lives through the years 🙌🏼💕