When Life Gets Difficult

The Lord went before them by day in a pillar of cloud to lead them along the way and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, that they might travel by day and by night. The pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night did not depart from before the people.


(Exodus 13:21,22)


Sometimes God leads us the hard way instead of the easy way because He is doing a special work in us. How will we ever learn to lean on Him if everything in our lives is easy enough for us to handle by our selves? God led the children of Israel the long, difficult way through the wilderness to prepare them for the battles they would face in possessing the Promised Land. He was concerned that when they saw the enemy they might run back to Egypt and become enslaved again in their former bandage. God wanted to teach them Who He was and that they could depend on Him to fight their battles.

Many of us think that when we enter into our Promised Land we will have not more spiritual battles. Not so! After the Israelites crossed the Jordan River and went in to possess the land of promise, the fought one battle after another. But as they learned to fight in God's strength and under His direction, they won their battles.

If you know God has asked you to do something, do not back down just because it gets hard. When things get tough, spend more time with Him, lean more on Him and receive more grace from Him. Realize the grace comes at no cost to you; GRACE IS THE POWER OF GOD working in you and through you to do those things you cannot do. As you face challenges in your life, beware of thoughts that say, I can't do this; it's just too hard. Do not let your mind give up! Satan knows that if he can defeat you in your mind, he can defeat you in your experience. That is why it is so important not to lose heart and not to grow weary or faint. You can be sure that wherever God leads you, He is able to keep you. He never will allow more to come on you than you can bear (see 1 Corinthians 10:13). You do not have to live in a constant struggle if you learn to continually lean on Him for the strength you need.

Page 108
The Everyday Life Bible
The Power of God's Word for Everyday Living
Amplified Version
Featuring Notes And Commentary By Joyce Meyer

And all ways remember God loves you.