When You're in Life's Trenches...

When breaths come in heaves rather than peaceful inhalations. When the mind races with confusion and questions rather than peace and rest. When the fiery darts of doubt are flying dangerously close to you. This is when you must just trust.

And when you're just not sure why He's allowing this "thing" in your life, this thing that tugs, and weighs down, and exhausts you. And when you find yourself questioning His goodness (although you'd never readily admit that you are, even to yourself), this is when you must just trust.

And when the doubts and guilt seep into your soul, when they consume your mind, when they threaten to choke out your joy and life, this is when you must throw yourself into the arms of God. For He will protect you from the enemy who desires to steal your joy and render you useless to the Kingdom. The devil may not be able to pluck you out of your Father's family, but he can surely (and surely does try) to paralyze you with his lies so that you feel unworthy to be used by the King. This is Satan's life - to steal yours from you.

So what to do?

Plunge deep into the refreshing, life-giving water of the Word. Throw yourself headfirst into it's quenching tides. And determine to believe it, although you don't fully believe it yet. Claim the Words that He wrote with His blood. Because who would shed blood for all mankind if the words were fraudulent?

So as you tread, knee-deep (and sometimes fully immersed) in the murky trenches of life, the trenches that are dirty, and blood-stained, and full of guilt, anger, hurt, pain, depression, anxiety, reach up to the hand of God who promises to lift us up out of the slimy pit and set our feet on a rock.

And ride the tide while He's manning the invisible boat. Because while it seems that we're being swept along the white waters, He's really there, keeping our feet steady, and only sending us down the rapids that He deems best for us and that He's already treaded before us. What the enemy means for evil, He means for good. Treading the murky waters with Him as our life preserver, only strengthens the spiritual muscles.

May we all rest in the truth that He is God, He loves us, and He is making us more like His Son through our trials. Nothing can separate YOU from the love of Christ.

Romans 8:28 - And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.