"I can't do this myself"

"In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” John 16:33

To me this verse is heard, believed, and understood completely at this present moment. I'm so grateful to serve a God who is bigger than my problems can ever be and how even when it feels as though no one else really understands just how painful it is - God says "I do."  

Personally I feel closest to God when I'm dealing with a difficult time in my life. Though I do not particularly like said difficult time I do love the indescribable peace that rushes over me when I turn to Jesus for help upon recognizing that I simply cannot go about overcoming this on my own. I also begin to see how utterly messed up I'd be if it weren't for the saving work of Christ in my life. Quite frankly it's because of Christ, and Him alone, that I have this firm foundation that is impossible to shake. No pain I feel or hard time I face can ever be greater than the love Jesus has for me.

Currently I'm living out the verse in Job where it talks about the Lord giving and the Lord taking away. Not too fond of the taking away part of it all but I have to realize that giving up things, people, situations, ect, to the God who created all things is a lot better than trying to keep them all in my sinful, selfish, and often unsteady hands. Once I muster up the strength to release what I've been holding on to so tightly I then begin to see why He wanted it from me so badly in the first place. Because typically He'll do something with it I never could have done on my own, or ever even dreamed of doing, but it just goes to show how little I know and how awesome He is.

Challenge of the week? Have more faith to give things to the One who created you, knows your every need and desire, and in the end will work any situation out for your benefit and ultimately His glory. 

-- "When I don't measure up to much in this life - I know I'm treasure in the arms of Christ" --