“If it was God’s will to bruise His own Son (Isaiah 53:10), why shouldn’t He bruise you? What shines forth and reveals God in your life is not your relative consistency to an idea of what a saint should be, but your genuine, living relationship with Jesus Christ, and your unrestrained devotion to Him whether you are well or sick.”
– Oswald Chambers
Last week I was at the Salem radio station in Phoenix to record 4 shows for Blazing Grace Radio. Normally I feel crummy or weak in the moments leading up to the time we record, often from long covid or spiritual warfare, and then God comes through moments before we begin with a burst of energy.
Only the burst didn’t come this time. I had to push through the first two shows. I’ve learned to ask God what He wants me to learn, especially when I’m going through a rough time. As I asked Him this question from within, His answer came back:
“Press through no matter how you feel.”
Pressing through doesn’t mean relying on the faulty, corrupt strength of our flesh—we dare not walk in our own strength, especially in ministry—but understanding that we won’t always feel well when we’re pouring out or engaged in the battle. Or just living life. I’m now in my third year with long covid and the symptoms have been tougher recently. We are only given one shot at life. Good health or not, living our lives for that which counts for eternity should remain the target we shoot for.
Several moments before we began recording the third radio show, the burst of energy came and it was full speed ahead. God will strengthen us in His time.
“Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial; for once he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.”
James 1:12
In these dark times there will be moments when you don’t feel well. Perhaps you’re emotionally drained, physically wiped out, stressed, or weary of the grind of life. Don’t stop, give up, or give in to complaining or pity parties. Keep asking God for strength and move forward. None of this diminishes our critical need for rest, but there will be situations when we have to bull our way through and leave nothing on the table. A church at war that fights to set captives free doesn’t take the easy road.
“Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.” (emphasis mine)
Matthew 7:13-14
It’s easy to watch porn.
Breaking free from porn and healing a marriage takes blood, sweat, and tears over an extended period of time.
It’s easy to check out in front of the TV, or spend an hour watching The Chosen.
An hour in effective prayer demands that you silence your flesh and engage your mind, will, and emotions in going hard after God.
It’s easy to live a life of indulging self and the flesh in pleasure and entertainment.
Living a life that counts for eternity demands crucifying self, suffering, giving God our heart, hours of prayer, energy, time, and resources, and spiritual warfare.
It’s easy to watch the epidemic of sexual sin continue to explode in the church and do nothing.
Getting in the fight demands commitment, energy, persistence, and spiritual warfare. If you’ve come through the other side, have you thought of starting a support group for men or wives? Or hosting a From Porn to Grace conference?
It’s easy to talk about prayer without attending a prayer meeting.
It’s easy to talk about obedience to God.
I’ve found obedience to be one of the hardest parts of the Christian life because my flesh wants to go Jonah and run in the other direction.
It’s easy to give soft, comforting, soothing messages from the pulpit with no sense of urgency and avoid topics like sex, porn, hell, sin, the occult, suicide or spiritual warfare – the issues many need help with.
Putting out a prayer-powered message that hits people in their core with conviction and equips them as overcomers comes at a cost of hours in prayer and time in God’s word and a refusal to be concerned with whether people are offended by the truth. And more warfare.
It’s easy to watch a church service on TV.
Going to church and making connections takes time and effort.
It’s easy to be a lukewarm Christian.
The way that leads to life is hard, with suffering, sorrow, and pain.
It’s easy to write off the church as full of hypocrites and disengage.
Getting your hands dirty with other broken people takes hard work.
And humility.
It would have been easy for me to have bailed last week at the radio station because I didn’t feel well.
I say, give me the hard road. The narrow road, though difficult and dangerous at times with moments of sorrow, pain, and mistakes, is filled with purpose, life, challenge, risk, wonder, and wins. Most importantly, it’s the life God calls us to.
“Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.”
2 Timothy 3:12
”Suffer hardship with me, as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. No soldier in active service entangles himself in the affairs of everyday life, so that he may please the one who enlisted him as a soldier.”
2 Timothy 2:3-4
“For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory”
2 Corinthians 4:17
May we pour our lives out until the end.
