When It’s Hard to Stand

Sometimes when things are tough and you feel particularly under attack, or you are down and discouraged, when you feel it is exceptionally challenging to lift your voice, when you are carrying a burden that seems to be slowing you down, when the adversary’s work has seeped into your soul, when the magnitude of your mission has you overwhelmed, when the weight of your own sinfulness calls you to question if you should even be standing there, when your week of ministry has crept into your preparation, when the accuser has brought the memories of past failures to the front of your mind, when confronting a sin you know is disturbing the Kingdom. When it’s hard. May I ask you to envision one thing. Imagine Jesus Christ standing right beside you. Because He is. His promise is always yes and true and His Word is always correct, and His lips cannot lie. He has spoken: “…I am with you always” (Matthew 28:20).

Peter would remind you: “…Jesus Christ: Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory” (1 Peter 1:7-8). You may not see Him, but by His Word, He is there. He is with you as you preach Him. He is for you. He will protect you to the very carrying away of your soul to Glory. The brethren may belittle you, the enemies may work against you, the culture may cancel you, the doubters may discourage you, but the Lord will never leave you. He is beside you. If that does not give respite and delight to your soul, I can’t imagine what might. Be strong and of good courage for the Lord is with you.