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Sometimes, it feels like you’re being buried under an impossible avalanche of troubles, doesn’t it?
Maybe you’re feeling pressure to perform (or to conform), stinging from the fallout from broken relationships, pinching pennies just so you can put food on the table, or living under the weight of chronic illness (that’s me).
No doubt, you have goals and hopes and dreams. You want to feel purposeful, like your life has meaning, and you’re making progress towards being who God wants you to be.
BUT, at the moment, you just feel like you’ve been buried alive.
NOT. FUN.
Not Buried, But Planted
But, you and I, we know that God wouldn’t just “bury” us for no reason. Right?
God’s Word says that He has a plan and a purpose for your life (Jeremiah 29:11). It also says that “He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 1:6)
So why does it feel like we’re six feet under? As with everything our Heavenly Father does, it’s for our good.
We’re like seeds, with tremendous potential wrapped up a tiny package, and you wouldn’t just bury a seed, would you? OH, wait… actually, you would! Because a seed can’t reach it’s full potential, until it’s buried….until it dies, and becomes something more. It gets PLANTED, and is forced to push through the soil to reach the surface. It struggles to grow, and then one day…FRUIT! That seed became a beautiful tree, and now is able to provide shade and nourishment.
You might feel like you’re in a dark place, or a tight spot. And it seems like you’re getting nowhere. Just remember, you’re not buried…but PLANTED!
Make Like a Butterfly, and Fight for Freedom
I love butterflies. They’re such beautiful creatures, and are an excellent symbol of what it means to be “born again” and made into something entirely new.
The fascinating thing about a caterpillar/butterfly, is that it can’t reach its’ full potential of beauty and flight, without first spending time inside the chrysalis. Then, once it’s time for the butterfly to emerge, it still has to struggle to get out of that tiny chrysalis. The struggle of fighting its way out of the chrysalis is essential for the development of the butterfly’s strength—otherwise its wings would be too weak to fly. Neat, huh?
And like the butterfly, we can’t arrive at our fully developed selves, without first going through the struggles. I know, I know, it’s not easy.
The Struggle is Real, But So Is The Victory
I totally understand how you feel. Battle-weary, wondering when you’ll see the light at the end of the tunnel… That’s my every day, chasing my God-given calling, while the chains of narcolepsy and other life struggles seem to hold me back.
But I won’t give up! And you shouldn’t either! As Paul says in 2 Corinthians 4:8-10 (NLT), We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed. We are perplexed, but not driven to despair. We are hunted down, but never abandoned by God. We get knocked down, but we are not destroyed. Through suffering, our bodies continue to share in the death of Jesus so that the life of Jesus may also be seen in our bodies.
Emphasis on that last part, “so that the life of Jesus may also be seen”. We fight to break the surface, to bear fruit, because God has called us to share the love of Christ…to be the “light of the world” (Matthew 5:14). That’s our purpose worth fighting for.
If you found this post to be helpful, be sure and check out the YouVersion devotional which inspired me to write it! Crushing: God Turns Pressure to Power by Bishop T.D. Jakes, is an awesome 7-day devo that will encourage you to persevere through tough times, and trust in God’s plan for your future.
Hi! Thank you so much for visiting Divine Creative Love. I’m a Jesus-lovin’ girl, lettering artist, designer, and general creative-at-heart. And, I have narcolepsy. I blog about faith in God, overcoming challenges, and creative topics such as Bible journaling. If you’re new here, be sure and subscribe to my list so you won’t miss anything!