Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters,whenever you face trials of many kinds,  because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.

 

James 1:2-3

 

But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.

2 Corinthians 12:9

 

 

Do you ever feel like you have reached the end of your long, tattered rope? You have worked your aching bones to the core with not much to show for it?

I have experienced times in my life where I feel wholeheartedly burned out. I look back on all that I have accomplished or strived for, and I can’t see how it was fruitful or even worth my time or effort. 

It is sometimes difficult to see beyond disappointment and how the Lord can work.

Let’s remember that God is not surprised where you have landed, and He may have even ordained it. 

He knows your hopes and your desires and understands your longing to see them come to fruition. 

I believe that sometimes we need to get to the end of ourselves to realize how much we really do need God. 

I am in one such season.

I am tapped out. 

I have been in a discouragement funk, and I can feel the weight of disappointment dragging me down. 

I have dedicated all my work to the Lord, but He is reminding me that pride and self-sufficiency have taken a front row seat. 

I am being humbled and I can see that the Lord has allowed me to be drained so that I recognized that only HE can fill me up. 

I know God is behind this shattered place and that He will see me through.

We are reminded in James 1:2-3 that we are to consider our trials pure joy. This may seem counterintuitive and counter cultural. Our society tells us to sink into feelings of despair, medicate and serve ourselves. 

The Lord wants us to be joyful in affliction. 

He promises in 2 Corinthians 12:9 that His grace is sufficient for us, and His power is made perfect in weakness. We are to boast in our weakness so that the power of God may rest in us. 

This is not easy. 

However, when we step out of ourselves and see our circumstances with a heavenly perspective the struggle turns into a purposeful experience with endless opportunities for growth.

So today let us declare that we are inadequate, but Christ is all powerful and sovereign over even the most difficult and discouraging circumstances. 

Thank you, Jesus, that you don’t leave us, you don’t forsake us, and you have the ultimate power of all we face. 

Take inventory of where you are today.   Are you letting pride and self-sufficiency rule your words, actions and work or are you truly relying on the one true source of strength?

Lord, I’m tapped out, but this is where YOU can do YOUR best work. 

xx

The Breathing Mama