Why Hard Things..?

I’m sure we’ve all heard people say when you get something you didn’t necessarily work for you tend to not appreciate it.

As I sit here and read Deuteronomy 7:21-24 this very thing comes to mind.

I know so often I have prayed for God to give me patience, to give me boldness, to help me speak up, to help me be a better mom or spouse and not see much change after that prayer.
Anyone else notice this too?

It can feel discouraging at times because truly we just want to be good people, good Christians, we want to behave in a way that is honoring to God and when we keep failing and praying and still failing, we get discouraged. We start to feel unworthy. We feel like maybe we’re just not under God’s favor or maybe He’s not pleased with us.

But when you read Deuteronomy and you see what God told His people about giving them the land “little by little” because if not the land would become too overwhelming for them I have to stop and marvel at His ways.

This whole walk with God is based on just how much we trust Him.
Trust Him to know what the future holds.
Trust Him to provide what we need.
Trust Him to take us where we should go.
Trust Him to develop the character He knows we will need for the future He knows we will have.
And I find, that is the part a lot of us struggle with the most, trusting God.

Trusting Him to know that taking our anger, bitterness, indifference, depression, away with just the snap of His fingers will do us more harm than good.
We would have done nothing to get ourselves out of it and will so easily fall back into it.

I know that personally I struggled with depression so hard in the past and if I’m not careful I can still struggle with it. But the Lord has helped me find the tools and mindset I need to get out of it. He showed me there was nothing to fear because even in my darkest days He was still with me. He reassured me that He hears me, He cares, He walks with me. He taught me how to be actively alert to and keep a watchful eye for moments, events, and situations the enemy will try to use to set up traps for me in that area.

When I notice myself possibly slipping into depression I, now, more quickly than before, run to Him because I’ve been deep and I know just how hard and long it took to get me out of that trap.

You’ve been praying for your kids? Your spouse? Your job?
Anger? Depression? Unforgiveness? And you haven’t seen any progress? Trust.
Trust that He is teaching you how to navigate your way out of it.
Trust that He is teaching you how to find Him in the middle of it with you.
Trust that your character is growing, your strength is building, you perseverance strengthening.

So be encouraged my friend. Know that your time spent in this battle will bring you closer to your promise. Don’t be discouraged because God is with you and He is teaching you how to fight if you would lend your heart and ear to the lesson.

It won’t only be a miracle from God that you are not that same person you were before but you are stronger and wiser because of all you learned in the process of your transformation.
Think of the testimony your struggles will provide for those struggling as you did.

Remember, God will have the victory. Let’s stick with God.

Deuteronomy 7:21-24    
v.21   "No, do not be afraid of those nations, for the LORD your God is among you, and He is a great and awesome God    
v.22    The LORD your God will drive those nations out ahead of you little by little. You will not clear them away all at once, otherwise the wild animals would multiply too quickly for you.    
v.23    But the LORD your God will hand them over to you. He will throw them into complete confusion until they are destroyed.     
v.24    He will put their kings in your power, and you will erase their names from the face of the earth. No one will be able to stand against you, and you will destroy them all."