How many times have you found yourself in a tough spot, wishing God would just take it all away? Maybe you messed up big time, and you know only He can pull you out of that mess. But here’s the thing: God knows us better than we know ourselves. He sees our hiccups, our slip-ups, and our moments when we decide to go our own way instead of waiting for His perfect plan. Yet, even with all our flaws, He still loves us fiercely and wants us for His own very special people.
In 2 Corinthians 12:8-10 (NLT), Paul shares his own struggles: “Three different times I begged the Lord to take it away. Each time he said, ‘My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.’” Think about that! God’s strength shines brightest when we’re feeling low. So instead of running from our weaknesses, we can lean into them, knowing that they’re an opportunity for Christ’s power to flow through us. Paul goes on to say, “For when I am weak, then I am strong.” That’s a game-changer right there.
Here’s the truth: when life gets real, we have a choice. We can either cling to God and turn our backs on the world, or we can do the opposite. But let’s be real—if we keep messing up and asking for forgiveness, expecting God to just overlook it like it’s no big deal, we’re missing the point. Life doesn’t work that way. As Galatians 6:7 (NLT) reminds us, “Don’t be misled—you cannot mock the justice of God. You will always harvest what you plant.” If you’re sowing bad seeds, you can bet those seeds will grow into something ugly. God has designed the universe so that it reflects what you put out there.
If only we could remember these hard truths when tribulation paints a different picture than what we’d like. I’ve seen and heard many Christians struggling mentally and emotionally under life’s pressures. But here’s the thing about tribulation: it pushes you to draw closer to God. When things spiral out of control, you realize you have no choice but to lean on Him. It’s in those struggles that you truly see God’s love shine brighter than ever.
As Romans 8:35 (NLT) asks, “Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or cold, or in danger, or threatened with death?” The answer is a resounding no! Nothing—neither height nor depth, nor any other created thing—can separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. In our darkest moments, that love is our anchor, reminding us that even in the struggle, we are never alone.
The Apostle Paul was able to boast in his weakness because it was in those moments that God was glorified through him. Paul faced some intense struggles and had many enemies, to the point where he often prayed for God to remove the “thorn in his flesh.” But God knew that Paul needed to lean on Him, and not worry about those who wanted to see him suffer.
There may be some of you that have encountered folks who would like nothing more than to see you suffer. But as the seasoned veterans in the Lord tell us, “With God on your side, you can never fail.”
When we don’t trust God during tough times, we create distance from Him through a lack of faith in His love for us. Doubt can be one of our biggest enemies. Many Christians find themselves focused more on escaping their struggles than on remembering God’s love in those moments of tribulation. It’s easy to wish for a break from the pressures and hardships of daily life, but it’s in those very challenges that we can discover the depth of His love and strength.
1 Peter 5:7 (NLT) tells us: “Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.” Our Heavenly Father doesn’t ever want us to be unhappy, sad, or depressed. The Lord Jesus invites us to leave our fears and worries with him, because he can handle them. Many of us struggle with letting go, even those who have been on this Christian journey for a while. But we must realize that we were never intended to walk alone. We were created as God’s children who will forever and always depend on Him. Through His strength, we are more powerful than we can imagine. Life doesn’t have to beat us down for us to grasp this truth.
Hebrews 12:1-2 reminds us of our purpose: “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith.” God makes it clear that the pressures of life can slow us down and signal that we’re not where we should be. But remember, because of His love within us, we can learn from our mistakes, correct our paths, and live a life of victory and happiness. ■
Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved.
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