“Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God” 2 Corinthians 3:5
As a writer, many individuals ask me about writing, telling me how they want to someday write, too, when their lives slow down and there is the time and opportunity to do so. My response is to encourage them to start now, not to wait, because if they hold off, that day may not ever come.
Unrealistically, many people have this idea that writers have a quiet atmosphere, surrounded by soothing calmness, and free from worry and care, with unlimited time to sit down and write. But it’s just not true.
For me, and I believe many other writers, we are often pushing through life’s challenging circumstances, finding time when and where we can to write, despite everything occurring in our lives and the world.
Often, my writing takes place with chaos dancing around me, where I find myself asking God, “How am I supposed to keep writing through these difficult days, with all these things happening, and when it seems hard to move forward?”
During these moments, Philippians 4:7 rings true: “And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
Truthfully, though, if I waited until everything around me was just right, I probably wouldn’t ever write. Like me, there are many writers pushing through life’s daily challenges, past the pain and sorrows of life and the ongoing distractions, to keep writing.
Especially as Christians, we rely on God’s help during grief, disappointment, loss, daily challenges, and more to keep moving ahead even when it’s difficult. Philippians 4:13 assures, “I can do all this through Him who gives me strength.”
God gives us the strength. He promises that even when we are weak, He is strong. As the Apostle Paul explained in 2 Corinthians 12:9, “But He said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.”
Likewise, God works through our weaknesses as a witness to the world around us. “But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong” (1 Corinthians 1:27).
Our lives are a testimony to His power and His strength so that others can witness how God works through us despite ourselves. Paul reminds us again in 2 Corinthians 4:7 that God calls us to reveal His power through our frailties: “But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.”
We, too, want to keep in mind that in our weaknesses, our battles here, are really not about earthly things, “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms” (Ephesians 6:12).
Often, we believe our weaknesses are our own fault, caused by our failures and defects within us. But, we want to remember what 1 Peter 5:8 warns: “Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.”
When Jesus was in a weakened physical state, fasting 40 days in the wilderness, and hungry, the devil began to tempt Him. In response, Jesus quoted Scripture, knowing the enemy cannot be victorious in our lives when confronted with the truth of God’s Qord. (Matthew 4:1-11).
2 Corinthians 10:4-5 encourages us to recognize that “The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.”
For some, Christ seemed weak in His path to the cross, but 2 Corinthians 13:4 explains, “For to be sure, He was crucified in weakness, yet He lives by God’s power. Likewise, we are weak in Him, yet by God’s power we will live with Him in our dealing with you.”
Let’s Pray:
Dear Father,
Thank you for understanding my weaknesses and giving me the strength to push through them. Help me to recognize the enemy’s tactics and to answer his temptations to give up by the truth of Your Word.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen
Photo Credit: ©Vladimir-Vladimirov
Lynette Kittle is married with four daughters. She enjoys writing about faith, marriage, parenting, relationships, and life. Her writing has been published by Focus on the Family, Decision, Today’s Christian Woman, kirkcameron.com, Ungrind.org, StartMarriageRight.com, and more. She has a M.A. in Communication from Regent University and serves as associate producer for Soul Check TV.
Related Resource: Jesus Calling - Stories of Faith
Kerry Washington, Andrea Bocelli, Reba McEntire, Mark Wahlberg, Tony Dungy, and Matthew McConaughey—what do all of these people have in common? They are all people of faith who have leaned on God in both the good and challenging times—and they’ve shown up to tell their stories of faith on The Jesus Calling Podcast. The Jesus Calling Podcast provides a place for people from all walks of life to share the heartaches, joys, and divine moments that keep them going.
Inspired by Sarah Young's classic devotional book, the Jesus Calling podcast has brought encouragement and peace to millions. New episodes drop every Thursday! Listen today on LifeAudio.com or wherever you find your podcasts.
Originally published Thursday, 18 April 2024.
SHARE
