Hope Within the Hard

Those who love God are more hard-pressed than ever. Not just in a few areas, but on practically every front.

Paul describes it this way: We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed. (2 Corinthians 4:8-9 NKJV)

Notice Paul didn’t say we feel hard-pressed. He said believers are hard-pressed. Yet his words are interwoven with immense hope. Because though we are perplexed, persecuted, and struck down, we need not despair because we will not be crushed, forsaken, or destroyed.

The past year has held some of the hardest days I’ve ever been through. And they were also some of my best days. How is that possible? Because hard times don’t have to get the last word. If you go through them with God, he will help you weather the storm.

The measure for my day is no longer how easy, fun, or profitable a season is. It’s whether I navigated the unknown well with God through it all by keeping my eyes on him more than the problem.

It's a process, but I’m learning to see the hope within the hard.

One last thought. If today’s reading resonated, take a moment now to email or share it with a fellow creative, friend or family member who could use the encouragement.

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