Press

Life is unpredictable and can change in a moment, but what I know for sure is that God is in control of everything.  Everything that we go through is for a purpose.  Many do not like that fact and would argue that if God loves us He would not allow us to suffer or experience any negativity in life,  in any way. But suffering is a part of life, and the lens through which we look at life is critical in how we view and ultimately engage with and endure, suffering.

Many of us go through difficult trials.  Some of us have very private struggles that are concealed.  Some have struggles that are visible and very apparent.  Whether it’s thinking we are not good enough, guilt, shame, unworthiness, self hatred, being able to trust again after a betrayal, being able to feel whole again after being violated - whatever it is we all struggle with something.

The devil would have us believe that we ARE what has happened to us in an attempt to keep us stuck in a depressed state of mind - but Christ offers us life and a way to survive those difficult struggles.  Through Christ we are over comers.  Even while we are in the midst of the struggle, we can move through the process of healing with an expected outcome of victory, because God promised it to us. 

“Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead,  I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus”.  -Philippians 3:13

To press is to force or push one's way:  to seek urgently.  Through it all, we must press our way forward with the expectation of victory. This does not mean that we should not give ourselves time to heal.  It is important to take time to examine what has happened to us. It is important to allow God to minister to our hearts and spirits so that we will know what to do and how to do it.  

It is important to acknowledge our pain, and allow God to reveal its origin and purpose in our lives.  We must do this as part of the pressing process. Acknowledge the pain and receive what God has for you AS you press.  Your press may start with a crawl. That is quite alright.  Allow God to turn that crawl into baby steps; those baby steps into longer steps.  Before you know it you will be running.  

“I will press, even when I am distressed. I will press, even when life's a mess, oh. But when it hurts I know You're moving on my behalf. I will press. I survived what man said would break me. Your joy gives me strength, and peace abides within. Lord in You, I know that I will win. I will press” -”Press” recorded by Maranda Curtis

You will survive whatever has been done to you.  You will survive the trauma of the awful things you have said about and have done to yourself.  I declare today, that you ARE a survivor, victory is yours.  Not because I say so, but because GOD says so.  

Don’t give up Keep pressing!