(Warning: This post is very blunt, open, and honest)
Some people may look at my life, or anyone else’s life for that matter, and have feelings of envy or jealousy. I’ve been there. Especially in todays world of social media, we constantly see the best of everyone’s lives and this has led to widespread problems of comparing ourselves with others, of becoming addicted to media or how many likes you get. This isn’t how God intended us to live though, and it’s also not an accurate picture of life in general. Take my life for example.
I get the amazing privilege to follow Christ around the globe through the World Race, and it’s one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. I get to travel the world, spread the gospel, and grow into the man God has created me to be. Don’t be fooled though, that doesn’t mean life isn’t hard. If I’m being honest, sometimes life can suck.
There are days on the race that are absolutely incredible; days I wouldn’t trade for the world. But there are also days where I just want a break, where I don’t want to get out of bed, where I just want to run away from it all. You can call it burn out, the B-zone, or whatever you want, but we all go through it. Regardless of where life takes you, you’re gonna have days where you don’t know if you can take it anymore.
So far on the race, I’ve laughed, but I’ve also cried. I’ve jumped (literally) for joy, but I’ve also curled up in the corner. I’ve had sweet, quiet moments with God, but I’ve also had times I straight-up yelled at Him. I’ve had places I didn’t want leave, but I’ve also had places where I was ready to run out the door. Life is amazing, but it also sometimes sucks. Unfortunately, in a fallen world, that always has been and always will be the case till Christ returns. It’s a fact of life.
Yet, somehow in it all, my hope remains. His name is Jesus.
As some of Jesus’s last words on earth state, “…And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age” (Matt. 28:20).
Even in our current struggles, tears, and hurts, God has promised to never leave or forsake us (Deut. 31:8). It doesn’t mean the pain and struggle will go away. God has never promised us an easy or pain-free life. It just means that we never have to do this alone.
As a saved, child of God, I have a connection with God that can’t and won’t ever be broken, and it’s this bond that I can lean on when I can’t take another step. Somehow and someway, God never changes and never leaves my side. He is my Father and loves me more than I can or ever will understand. He won’t always fix my problems, but He will always sit by my side through them.
“When the poor and needy seek water, and there is none, and their tongue is parched with thirst, I the Lord will answer them; I the God of Israel will not forsake them.” – Isaiah 41:17
Trust Him; lean on Him; love Him. He is my God and nothing, not even the darkest valley, will ever change that.
God Bless!
Ben
