Victory

Romans 8:37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. (ESV)

Prepare your mindset for joy when you face trials and tribulations (James 1:2). This past week I faced not one, not two, but several phone calls from my loved ones letting me know of some kind of tragedy. I was experiencing my own set of challenges and to be hit with bad news after bad news, it hurt. I was filled with anxiety, which we know stirs up due to fear. In this case, fear of the unknown and asking myself what else could go wrong.

There wasn't anything left for me to do but to pray. I remember asking God to reveal to me the purpose of everything unfolding and what was I to do in the midst of it all. I realized very quickly that he was not ready for me to understand the purpose right now. What I was supposed to do was study and pray. Through my prayer life, I was encouraged that understanding the process was futile. That is quite hard for me, I am a process thinker, I need to understand how things are going to happen and what my role is supposed to be. The more I tried to understand that, the more confusing the situations in my life became.

God arrested my heart and I came to understand that it's not about the process this time. This time it was about trusting God and knowing that victory would be the outcome. No matter the pain I felt, the confusion, the impatience, it all boiled down to one word. Victory! We have victory in Christ Jesus in everything we go through as his children. We have to experience challenges for our spiritual development, this is true. We also have to experience these things to fulfill his will. As inheritors of the Kingdom of God, we must remain faithful to his plan for our lives. Even when it's painful we must remember that we have victory in him and that eventually we will see why the process was necessary. Until then, our mindset should remain a fortress, impenetrable by the enemy. Guard your heart (mind) with the word of God and through prayer. Do this so that when defeat, negative self-talk, and any other false narratives come, none of it will have any power over you!

Prayer Heavenly Father, thank you for developing me and helping me strengthen my prayer life. Thank you for increasing my faith and providing hope during difficult seasons of life. I am hurting through the consistent pressure but I know that this pain is temporary and that you have already claimed victory! Though my heart is heavy and at times I am afraid, I know that is not of you and that I must cast out the darkness by protecting my mind. I know I must affirm who you are in my life and re-direct my thoughts. Father when I fall weak, send a word of encouragement and remind me that I am chosen. Remind me Oh God that you and you alone are enough for any circumstance I face. I pray for comfort Lord and discernment to navigate during this time. ~ Amen