The Struggle Is Real!
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| (Image owned by Jordan R. Cernek.) |
Among teenagers today, there is a phrase that they say when they are faced with challenges in life: "The struggle is real!" (Unless you're from Whiteville, then you will say, "The skruggle is real!") Today, I join them in their cry. "THE STRUGGLE IS REAL!"
Life is hard. This is a fact of which every human being is emphatically aware. My defensive line coach in college, the infamous Coach Stew, often said, "Life sucks. Football's fun." After hearing his story and his life struggles, I understood where he was coming from. If I can chase that rabbit trail for a bit... that is the reason why I love sports. They offer an opportunity to get your mind off the struggles and stresses of life and focus on something less daunting than life's discouragements. I certainly do miss the days of playing football. I am thankful I still get to be a part of it as I have been coaching football for the past three years.
Lately, many life changes have occurred in my life. More specifically, I am engaged and in the process of doing my best to help plan our wedding for December the 27th. I am very excited about these life changes and have hoped and anxiously awaited this season of my life for a long, long time! But now that the time is here, it has arrived in full force. It demands all my energy, all my effort, all my love, and all of me. I feel very uncertain yet extremely excited to take this next step in my life. The internal struggle of inadequacy beat against my brain day-in and day-out. I am attacked by my fears and my insecurities.
Yet there is one thing that remains the same through all of life's ups and downs.
Think about that for a minute before I tell you the one thing that never changes. Why is it so important that we, as humans, know that things won't change? We all desire security and safety. If pieces in life begin changing and shifting, we give in to fear and anxiety arises. Don't take my word for it, though! Think about this in regards to your own life: Your teacher changes the seating chart in your classroom at school. That creates stress! Your mom and dad are fighting and arguing more. That creates stress and uncertainty about the future of their relationship. Every little thing that changes creates a certain level of uncertainty and fear if we are honest with ourselves.
But it is great to know that there is One Thing that never changes, never leaves, is always constant, always trustworthy, always faithful, and - well - just ALWAYS IS! This One Thing is GOD! God's Word says in Malachi 3:6, "I the LORD do not change...." What great hope there is in that! His unfailing Word also says, "I am the Beginning and the End, the Alpha and the Omega." He is eternal. Eternal things do not change. They are here forever and ever and ever and ever....
Praise be to God that His faithfulness provides peace and assurance through all of life's seasons! Just think about it: He has always caused the sun to rise and set, the rain to water the plants, the leaves to change their colors - and He has never stopped making sure that His creation has what it needs from day to day.
The next time you face a time in life that is uncertain and fear begins to creep in, be reminded, as I have been, of the glorious truth that God does not change. His love is constant and His character is always trustworthy!
Psalm 136
"1 Praise the Lord! He is good.
God’s love never fails.
2 Praise the God of all gods.
God’s love never fails.
3 Praise the Lord of lords.
God’s love never fails.
4 Only God works great miracles.
God’s love never fails.
5 With wisdom he made the sky.
God’s love never fails.
6 The Lord stretched the earth
over the ocean.
God’s love never fails.
7 He made the bright lights
in the sky.
God’s love never fails.
8 He lets the sun rule each day.
God’s love never fails.
9 He lets the moon and the stars
rule each night.
God’s love never fails.
10 God struck down the first-born
in every Egyptian family.
God’s love never fails.
11 He rescued Israel from Egypt.
God’s love never fails.
12 God used his great strength
and his powerful arm.
God’s love never fails.
13 He split the Red Sea apart.
God’s love never fails.
14 The Lord brought Israel safely
through the sea.
God’s love never fails.
15 He destroyed the Egyptian king
and his army there.
God’s love never fails.
16 The Lord led his people
through the desert.
God’s love never fails.
17 Our God defeated mighty kings.
God’s love never fails.
18 And he killed famous kings.
God’s love never fails.
19 One of them was Sihon,
king of the Amorites.
God’s love never fails.
20 Another was King Og of Bashan.
God’s love never fails.
21 God took away their land.
God’s love never fails.
22 He gave their land to Israel,
the people who serve him.
God’s love never fails.
23 God saw the trouble we were in.
God’s love never fails.
24 He rescued us from our enemies.
God’s love never fails.
25 He gives food to all who live.
God’s love never fails.
26 Praise God in heaven!
God’s love never fails."
Yet there is one thing that remains the same through all of life's ups and downs.
Think about that for a minute before I tell you the one thing that never changes. Why is it so important that we, as humans, know that things won't change? We all desire security and safety. If pieces in life begin changing and shifting, we give in to fear and anxiety arises. Don't take my word for it, though! Think about this in regards to your own life: Your teacher changes the seating chart in your classroom at school. That creates stress! Your mom and dad are fighting and arguing more. That creates stress and uncertainty about the future of their relationship. Every little thing that changes creates a certain level of uncertainty and fear if we are honest with ourselves.
But it is great to know that there is One Thing that never changes, never leaves, is always constant, always trustworthy, always faithful, and - well - just ALWAYS IS! This One Thing is GOD! God's Word says in Malachi 3:6, "I the LORD do not change...." What great hope there is in that! His unfailing Word also says, "I am the Beginning and the End, the Alpha and the Omega." He is eternal. Eternal things do not change. They are here forever and ever and ever and ever....
Praise be to God that His faithfulness provides peace and assurance through all of life's seasons! Just think about it: He has always caused the sun to rise and set, the rain to water the plants, the leaves to change their colors - and He has never stopped making sure that His creation has what it needs from day to day.
The next time you face a time in life that is uncertain and fear begins to creep in, be reminded, as I have been, of the glorious truth that God does not change. His love is constant and His character is always trustworthy!
Psalm 136
"1 Praise the Lord! He is good.
God’s love never fails.
2 Praise the God of all gods.
God’s love never fails.
3 Praise the Lord of lords.
God’s love never fails.
4 Only God works great miracles.
God’s love never fails.
5 With wisdom he made the sky.
God’s love never fails.
6 The Lord stretched the earth
over the ocean.
God’s love never fails.
7 He made the bright lights
in the sky.
God’s love never fails.
8 He lets the sun rule each day.
God’s love never fails.
9 He lets the moon and the stars
rule each night.
God’s love never fails.
10 God struck down the first-born
in every Egyptian family.
God’s love never fails.
11 He rescued Israel from Egypt.
God’s love never fails.
12 God used his great strength
and his powerful arm.
God’s love never fails.
13 He split the Red Sea apart.
God’s love never fails.
14 The Lord brought Israel safely
through the sea.
God’s love never fails.
15 He destroyed the Egyptian king
and his army there.
God’s love never fails.
16 The Lord led his people
through the desert.
God’s love never fails.
17 Our God defeated mighty kings.
God’s love never fails.
18 And he killed famous kings.
God’s love never fails.
19 One of them was Sihon,
king of the Amorites.
God’s love never fails.
20 Another was King Og of Bashan.
God’s love never fails.
21 God took away their land.
God’s love never fails.
22 He gave their land to Israel,
the people who serve him.
God’s love never fails.
23 God saw the trouble we were in.
God’s love never fails.
24 He rescued us from our enemies.
God’s love never fails.
25 He gives food to all who live.
God’s love never fails.
26 Praise God in heaven!
God’s love never fails."
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