His Love Will Sustain

What a wonderful truth to cling to! His love sustains us, when we've nothing left to give. Of course, it's not like we had anything to give to begin with, but our decaying lives. Have you ever felt that you given all you have, and the world still wants more? Can you really give more than 100%?
 This week has been a trying week. I suppose we all have them from time to time, and often times there are others who have it worse than we do. This time is no exception. I am surrounded by people who are going through trials, and have given me the low down of every detail of that trial. I, too, am going through my own trials, but no one with which to speak to--except God. Thank God He is willing to listen! Though all hell assail me, I shall not be moved! Why? Because His love sustains me.

Think about the last trial you went through. No, not the one you're going through now, but that last one... remember? Yeah. That one. When you were going through it, didn't it seem like you would never get to the end of it? Didn't it seem like you were going to have to stay like that forever? Keep putting up with that irritant of a person until one or other of you finally passed on?  Yet, eventually, the trial ended. That's what I try to remember. Our trials won't last forever, although sometimes it seems like it will. God has not turned a deaf ear to His children, nor is he apathetic to our lives. No, God is always up to something, somewhere, and with somebody.  It might not be our turn 'just now', but give it a little longer. Watch God work in your life, and in the lives of others.

Paul was no stranger to this. If you've ever read anything about his missionary journeys, his whole life was a trial, it seemed. Yet, because he was excited about the Gospel, he gladly endured the trials. He was compelled to share the Gospel, so it wasn't like he really had a choice.

Paul tells the Ephesians, to simply stand. After we've done everything we know to do, simply stand...with the full armor of God, of course.

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. ¹¹ Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. ¹² 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. ¹³Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. ¹⁴ Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, ¹⁵ and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. ¹⁶ In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. ¹⁷Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

We're not really fighting against other people, but with the irritating fallen angels. Sure, they come in the form of people--our co-workers, our spouses, children, parents, and.... surprise, surprise, sometimes even ourselves. But the puppeteer behind the marionettes are the spiritual forces, not us. So, Paul is telling the Ephesians, when you've given it all you've got, when you've tried every way in the world to make an outcome be positive, or get the trial to get on down the road, simply stand in His might and power.

I know those trials may seem weary. I know it seems they last forever, and the people you hope that will encourage you, and support you through the trial, simply don't. It's okay. Just smile when they try to suck the life out of you in order to make their own trial number one in both yours AND their life, and realize that God isn't done. He knows the heartache and pain, He knows what needs to be happening in your life, and when.

I saw this post on a friend's status that spoke volumes to me:

It's not my ability to hold on to God, but rather, it's God's ability to hold on to me, that sustains our relationship.  

How true. It's okay to not feel like you're on the top of the world every second of every day. It's okay to wish you were on a deserted island with no one to make demands on you. Go ahead---wish it. God knows and understand. He will take care of you, you'll see.

God's love will sustain you.

Remember as you sail on through life's storms, God himself has got an encouragement for you like you won't believe. Don't look for it in any one person. God will reveal it in His time--and it will blow you away
Blessings!