Be Strong!

 Joshua 1:9 

"Be strong and of good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest" 

You don't know how you will be until you are going through it. 

You can tell yourself many things before the storm comes. You can prepare yourself.

You can do everything in your power to ensure you are all set and ready before the trouble. 

The pep talk, the assurance of what awaits you in the end, everything. 

However, nothing can ever prepare you for the exact winds the storm carries. 

It's in the midst of the lightning, the thundering, the strong gusts and the overwhelming lonesome that you encounter is where your strength is tested. 

It is where everything you have learned, the Word, the prayers, the faith, the fasting, and every single thing that you have done comes into play. 

How strong are you then?

Even for me, who is an encourager, when the fight of my mind becomes stronger I find myself feeling my strength tested. 

I'm in the valley of decisions. 

Do I continue to fight?

Do I give in?

Do I let go?

Do I hold on?

I know what lies beyond the fight. I know what lies beyond the battlefield, but it's in the midst of it all that I am conflicted. 

It's a song that I love to hear that Donnie McClurkin sings. It's called Stand. 

It says "After you have done all you can, you just stand" 

Sometimes in the midst of the storm and the worry, you can't do anything to get out of it, but just be strong. 

Stop worrying, stop trying to find a way to get from it, or try to beat yourself up about it, just be strong. 

Be strong through the criticism. 

Be strong through the slander. 

Be strong through neglect and rejection. 

Be strong through the allegations and accusations. 

Be strong through the setback and the crisis. 

Be strong through the hurt and the pain. 

Just be strong. 

Take the blows, but don't let them knock you down and out. 

I know, when it comes to situations in our lives our reactions would be to try to find a way out, to probably dodge it, panic, or look for some sort of pacification. 

But, sometimes-most times, we just need to be strong in the midst of it all. 

Weather the storm. 

Matthew 26:42

"He went away a second time and prayed, "My Father if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may Your will be done" 

This is Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane praying that the crucifixion He's about to face to pass away from Him, but even He realized that He had to go through it and remain strong. 

As you see, He accepted by saying "If it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it"

Unless I consume it. Unless I weather it. 

Then, so be it.

I encourage you today, to be strong. 

I know many of you are fighting battles, some battles that you can't even talk about. It feels like there isn't a way out. You feel like it has been going on forever now. You have been questioning how and why you have to be in this predicament. Just be strong. 

I know it's not easy.

You're being bruised. It's hurting. It's messing you up. It's discouraging you. It's breaking you. 

It's making you feel alone. 

Be strong.

This too shall pass. 

Be strong in your going in, in the midst of it, and when you're coming out. 

~TheRay