Be Strong

 Everything may seem crazy right now. Covid cases are on the rise again. Everyone is freaking out about the new Delta variant. People are losing their jobs because of their religious and medical choices. Afganistan has been taken over by the Taliban. You may be thinking that it can't get any worse. That this is the end.
But wait. It can't be. People have gone through even worse problems than this. And they still praised God.
The world hasn't ended yet. Stop worrying and wondering about tomorrow. Lay your burdens aside and follow Christ. Tell Him all about it. Trust in Him and stay strong.
This morning we were reading second Corinthians. Paul was telling the Corinthians what he had gone through. Listening to his hardships made me wonder if everything going on right now really was that bad. 


2nd Corinthians 11:22-31
22 Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they the seed of Abraham? So am I. 23 Are they ministers of Christ?—I speak as a fool—I am more: in labors more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequently, in deaths often. 24 From the Jews five times I received forty stripes minus one. 25 Three times I was beaten with rods; once I was stoned; three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I have been in the deep; 26 in journeys often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils of my own countrymen, in perils of the Gentiles, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; 27 in weariness and toil, in sleeplessness often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness— 28 besides the other things, what comes upon me daily: my deep concern for all the churches. 29 Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is made to stumble, and I do not burn with indignation?
30 If I must boast, I will boast in the things which concern my infirmity. 31 The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who is blessed forever, knows that I am not lying. 


Wow. He really went through a lot. And he did it for Christ, while praising Christ. We can get through this. 
After reading about Paul, I felt puny. He wasn't complaining. He wasn't crying about how sad his life was. He was brave in Christ. He was strong, tough and he cared about the other believers. Can't we try to be more like him? We can. We should. Life may seem overwhelming. It may seem hard. But remember, God is there. He won't abandon you. Praise Him during hardships like Paul. Trust in Him.

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