"Hard pressed but not in despair" . . .

This has been one of those "hard pressed" days ~ not necessarily for myself but for precious friends whom I love. You know those kinds of days - bad news and strife coming from all sides: a toddler's cancer diagnosis, a family floundering in the aftermath of divorce and emotional trauma, parents estranged from their children. (As you can probably tell, this post is not really about homeschooling, but then again, it is about "real" life - which we cautiously share with our children along the way and seek the wisdom, healing, and comfort that can only come from God alone.)

This has been a HARD year for many. I will say that again, this has been a HARD year for many whom I love - divorce, sickness, death, job loss, financial stress, accidents, marital strife, teenage depression, losing children, fighting cancer . . . the list goes on and on. Our enemy is alive and well. Days like today, when I am still recovering from surgery and feel weak physically and emotionally, the enormity of my friends' trials and struggles weighs upon my shoulders. I find myself praying most of the day, "Lord Jesus, COME!" We need YOU!" As the Word says, "For while we are in this tent, we groan and are burdened, because we do not wish to be unclothed but to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life." (2 Cor. 5:4)

But God, in His faithfulness, reminds me of the hope and power that come only through Him and refocuses my wayward attention:

"We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may be revealed in our body." (2 Cor. 4:8-10)

" . . . though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith - of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire - may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed." (1 Peter 1:6-7)

"Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you" ~ and the Amplified Bible adds "He cares for you affectionately and cares about you watchfully." (1 Peter 5:7)

"And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace [Who imparts all blessing and favor], Who has called you to His [own] eternal glory in Christ Jesus, will Himself complete and make you what you ought to be, establish and ground you securely, and strengthen, and settle you." (1 Peter 5:10 Amplified)

"Therefore, we do not become discouraged (utterly spiritless, exhausted, wearied out through fear). Though our outer man is [progressively] decaying and wasting away, yet our inner self is being [progressively] renewed day after day. For our light, momentary affliction (this slight distress of the passing hour) is ever more and more abundantly preparing and producing and achieving for us an everlasting weight of glory [beyond all measure, excessively surpassing all comparisons and all calculations, a vast and transcendent glory and blessedness never to cease!] Since we consider and look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen; for the things that are visible are temporal (brief and fleeting), but the things that are invisible are deathless and everlasting." (2 Cor. 4:16-18 Amplified)

"For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 8:38)

Thank you, Lord Jesus, for purpose in struggle and pain, for your watchful eyes and compassionate heart, and that NOTHING in all creation can separate us from your never-ending love. Give us joy in affliction, patience in trial, and help us to be thankful in all circumstances for we know this is your will for us. We love you and are grateful that You will never leave us nor forsake us. May our struggles and our weaknesses reveal Your power working within us and may You be glorified above all things. For we know that when we are weak, You are strong and that Your power is made perfect in our weakness. We long for the day when we shall see You face to face and bask in the glory of Your perfection. Until then, help us not to focus on our own circumstances but to fix our eyes upon You. In Your precious Name I pray, Amen.