We all have weaknesses, setbacks, and mistakes. The thing is, the enemy is really good at reminding us of our weakness. And as much as we’d like to think all weakness is behind us, the reality is that it’s not always that easy. What if my weakness isn’t just a part of my past? What if it’s still a part of who I am? The beautiful truth, however, is that even in the midst of all this, God is known for using broken people to do big things. He brings His greatest strengths through the acknowledgment of our greatest weaknesses.

God always keeps His word. While it may look different than we thought it would, it doesn’t make His word any less true. Too often, we allow our surroundings to skew our view of what God said. If what we see looks different than what God said, we give up and stop short. But just because the surroundings may not match God’s promises right now, it doesn’t mean that they won’t line up with God’s word in His timing.

In James 1, he tells us that we are to be joyful, even in the midst of our greatest trials. This is the opposite of the way we live our lives. We live in such a way that when things go how we want, we’re happy. And when things don’t go how we want, we’re not. However, with Jesus, the reason we find joy in trials is because we know that nothing is wasted with Him. As we persevere, we grow and are strengthened. It may not feel like it now, but it will be worth it. 

We tend to focus on what we’re going through, instead of who we’re going with. We feel unhappy because: The divorce was too much, we can’t figure life out, or life got rocky. But Paul says “no no, don’t focus on everything going on OUT HERE — it’s about WHO you have IN HERE. On the outside, it may not seem that there’s much to smile about; but as followers of Jesus, our smile comes from what He’s done on the inside.

Moving on from seasons, people, and experiences is rarely ever easy. It’s natural to even need to mourn those things leaving our lives. While we know that what God has in store is always better, there’s still an understandable connection to what we’ve lost or left. It’s never wrong to feel sad for a moment, as long as we don’t stay there. We have to be willing to get up and move forward into what God has ahead of us.