Turning Your Difficulties into Victories!

How often do you find yourself going through life feeling bogged down by all the hardships and difficulties? It seems you finally gain one victory only to discover another problem staring you in the face? You begin to wonder if GOD really cares about you or has any concern about your problems and hardships?

Life is certainly filled with problems for all of us—it just wouldn’t be life otherwise. We can choose to accept the path we have been chosen to follow after and make the very best of it, learning as we go; or, we can continue feeling moving along bogged down by all the problems and difficulties.

James has a word that should encourage our hearts in these times. He tells us: “Consider it a great joy, my brothers, whenever you experience various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. But endurance must do its complete work, so that you may be mature and complete, lacking nothing” (James 1:2-4 HCSB).

Now, I know that none of us takes pleasure in difficulties or considers our difficult times as something to find joy in. However, we can rest assured knowing that GOD can use these times to build us up, strengthen us and better equip us for the battles this life throws at us if we will only submit ourselves fully over to Him.

Paul dealt with this issue in his own life as well. He discovered there were some great positives to be gained through his personal experiences with difficulties. He said: “We also rejoice in our afflictions, because we know that affliction produces endurance, endurance produces proven character, and proven character produces hope” (Romans 5:3-4 HCSB).

Paul recognized the fact that he wasn’t here for himself or for his own pleasure and self-gratitude. He recognized that life is all about bringing pleasure to GOD, pleasing GOD and helping others in order that they too may discover the saving power of Jesus Christ in their own lives. Whatever you are going through today, seek to discover the good that will come out of it. Allow the struggles to become victories. Turn your mountains of troubles into faith-building experiences.

Every new step you take, in faith, is a victory for you. Every giant you stare in the face and take authority over, in Jesus’ name, is another battle you have won. You have habits that need to be broken? You have changes in your life that really need to be made? GOD is willing to step in and help you through them all. Don’t allow your past failures to dictate your present world, move forward in the name and power of Jesus Christ making every day a new day and a new experience.

No matter how difficult your day appears, or how high that mountain has grown, or how loud that giant roars—victory is yours through Jesus Christ! Paul had his struggles, his difficulties, his hardships but he hung on to prize that was before him. Hang on to al GOD has in store for those who persevere to the end.

Think about what Paul said: “Not that I have already reached the goal or am already fully mature, but I make every effort to take hold of it because I also have been taken hold of by Christ Jesus. Brothers, I do not consider myself to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: forgetting what is behind and reaching forward to what is ahead, I pursue as my goal the prize promised by God’s heavenly call in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:12-14 HCSB).

Scripture Reading: “Lord, how long will You continually forget me? How long will You hide Your face from me? How long will I store up anxious concerns within me, agony in my mind every day? How long will my enemy dominate me? Consider me and answer, Lord, my God. Restore brightness to my eyes; otherwise, I will sleep in death, my enemy will say, ‘I have triumphed over him,’ and my foes will rejoice because I am shaken. But I have trusted in Your faithful love; my heart will rejoice in Your deliverance. I will sing to the Lord because He has treated me generously” (Psalm 13 HCSB).

Personal Prayer: Father, I thank You for always being near me. I thank You that in the midst of my trails and difficulties, You are always there for me. I pray that You would give me the strength to keep going, the faith to keep trusting, the desire to keep serving You regardless of how tough life may be. Please forgive me when I fail and fall. Help me to get right back up and do it all over again. I love You and praise You for the promise of my salvation and the promise of an eternal heavenly reward awaiting me for my faithfulness and perseverance. Thank You, LORD…in Jesus’ name…AMEN!