We are starting the 4th month of our hard season. I still feel God’s hope and peace in my heart and pray this part ends soon. I feel a sparkle of hope that this season will end soon.
There are ups and downs everyday in life. I am realizing that it is how you handle it that matters.
My son ran a race on Saturday. He started strong and was in the top five. And then, during the last stretch he got a vicious camp. He kept running and finished the race, but not in the top five. The picture at the finish line shows his face in agony. He said he turned towards the trees and and clenched his teeth trying to will away the pain. During that time, a few younger runners came over to tell him their times. He smiled and told them they did great and he was so proud of them. He said it took 30 minutes for the pain to go away.
When we are moving through life, how do we finish our season? Do we keep going through the pain? Do we find just enough to get through it? Do we put aside our present struggles to congratulate others?
Even if we start a season strong, it matters how we walk through the hard parts. We can’t give up. We have to keep our eyes on God and know the struggles are temporary. There will be another race, and there will be another season of life after this one. This is not the end. What we have struggled through becomes part of our story. It makes us stronger for the future.
This morning I read Daniel, where he was confessing and praying for his sins and the sins of his people. The angel Gabriel came to give him insight and understanding. God hears our prayers. We are precious to God.
God has grace and mercy on us. God loves us. There are better days ahead. God will carry you through the hard times. Don’t go through hard seasons alone, seek God in prayer and ask for strength and hope.
I went on praying and confessing my sin and the sin of my people, pleading with the Lord my God for Jerusalem, his holy mountain. As I was praying, Gabriel, whom I had seen in the earlier vision, came swiftly to me at the time of the evening sacrifice. He explained to me, “Daniel, I have come here to give you insight and understanding. The moment you began praying, a command was given. And now I am here to tell you what it was, for you are very precious to God. Listen carefully so that you can understand the meaning of your vision.”
—Daniel 9:20-23 (NLT)
