A bi-weekly inspirational column by LaKeisha Rainey-Collins
Lately, I’ve noticed that I’m crossing paths with a lot of women who remind me so much of the broken woman I used to be. On separate recent occasions, I offered a listening heart to three young ladies experiencing serious turbulence in their lives. Though their situations are different, their feelings towards the turmoil in their lives are the same. They are weary, and worn by fighting what seems to be a constant losing battle. As I conversed with them individually, there was one statement they each made that united them in my heart – “This will be the death of me.” Here were three women who sincerely love the Lord and whose whole lives are still ahead of them, ready to throw in the towel and give up on life.
But I couldn’t judge them. I empathized with them, and my heart ached each time I heard or read those words, because I once felt the same way. I knew exactly how they felt.
Life often has a way of making us feel like we are cursed with a curse. At least that’s the way I felt. It seemed like I just couldn’t win for losing, and every time I thought things couldn’t get worse, they did. And whenever I’d slightly convince myself that I could make it through, something would happen to make me believe otherwise. Every small glimpse of sunshine was quickly clouded by gloom. It was exhausting, and for a minute, I felt like I was losing my mind. There were times when I couldn’t go to work because the tears wouldn’t stop; days when I couldn’t find the strength to get out of bed; moments when I thought I’d have a mental breakdown; and periods of not knowing whether I was coming or going.
Have you ever felt that way?
Back then, I couldn’t see God’s hand upon me, neither could I understand how all of the pain and anguish in my life would work together for my good, as Romans 8:28 encourages. All I could see was what appeared to be a jacked up life that had no purpose. The enemy sometimes planted thoughts of suicide in my mind, and I honestly believed that I would die in my brokenness.
Oh, but God!
Right in the middle of my despair, His love and His word found me. He spoke to me so profoundly in Psalm 118:17. It says, “I will not die but live, and will proclaim what the LORD has done.” I embedded that scripture in my heart, and I meditated on it day and night, until I was convinced of its truth.
When the enemy told me to self-destruct, I told him I will not die, but live.
When my problems overwhelmed me, I told myself I will not die, but live.
When depression backed me into a dark corner, I proclaimed I will not die, but live.
I spoke life into the atmosphere, and it became manifest in me. And I’m here, by the grace of God, proclaiming what the Lord has done. There is power in the word of God. And when we hide the Word in our hearts and proclaim it from our mouths, the enemy does not stand a chance against us.
God did not design our afflictions to destroy us. He allows us to experience tough times so that we may learn of Him and become shaped and molded into what He destined us to be. He desires to give us life even in the midst of our valley experiences. It’s the enemy that makes us believe we will die in our sorrow. But he’s a liar.
Know this - It’s during our storms that we are on the Potter’s wheel. Just as the potter cups his hand around the clay on his wheel and carefully shapes it until it becomes a beautiful masterpiece, so does our Father hold us in His hands, meticulously molding us until we become like the image of Christ. The clay gets a bit marred and broken in the process, but as long as it remains in the potter’s hands, he will perfectly put it back together.
The pain is not to kill you. The fire is not to burn you. The raging sea is not to drown you. It is not unto death. Jesus says, “I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.” (John 10:10) It is the thief, the enemy, that comes to steal, kill, and destroy, but he cannot take what belongs to the Lord. And because you have been bought with a price, you are God’s property. Though the enemy desires to sift you as wheat, he cannot take your life. I declare that you shall live.
Despite how bad it hurts, how dark the day, how heavy the burden, the Lord has plans to give you a future and a hope. (Jeremiah 29:11) If you just hang in there, the Lord is going to perfect every single thing that concerns you. (Psalm 138:8). You’ll soon look back and see how the Lord’s mercy endured in your life, and proclaim His goodness forever.
Your right now pales in comparison to your future. 2 Corinthians 4:17 says it best, “For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.” Your troubles will not be the death of you, but the development of the you God designed you to be long before the foundation of the world.
You shall not die, but live. Go ahead and praise God for abundant life.
LaKeisha Rainey-Collins is a wife, mother of two beautiful boys and inspirational blogger. She believes that God has purposed her to use her gift of writing to share her experiences as a Christian woman, wife, and mother, in order to touch the hearts of other women just like her.
Email LaKeisha:
kcollins@eewmagazine.com
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