The past week was the most difficult one of my Lenten journey. Not just in the remembering of the events of Holy Week or from my devotionals in Bread and Wine: Readings for Lent and Easter, but personally challenging in ways I thought were behind me.
That is part of the reason for my delay in writing this post. The words wouldn’t come. I’m unsure they’re going to come the way I want them to now but I will try.
We all know what a hard week feels like. Or months or years. Some of you are in the middle of a hard season and it’s been so long you’ve stopped keeping track.
All I know is that it felt like I was fighting to be okay. Not working hard to be okay. Not fighting to be victorious. I had to fight to be okay. That meant not giving in to certain thoughts. It meant doing the things I had to do…..and following through with plans I’d made. Fighting meant being honest with myself and focusing on Truth. It meant resting but not isolating. It meant me not asking someone else to do what only God can do and remembering what He’s already done.
“We begin our Christian life by depending not upon our own doing but upon what Christ has done.
When you cease doing, then God will begin.” Watchman Nee, Day 44, Bread and Wine
And I’m learning I’m able to make it through the hard weeks. Because He is with me.
“We go through that valley of the shadow of death with him. But with him. With whom? Him – the Savior – the Agnus Dei – this figure on the Cross.” Thomas Howard, Day 36, Bread and Wine.
3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you, 5 who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. 6 In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. 7 These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. 8 Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, 9 for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls. 1 Peter 1:3-9
mariegriffith.me 
In Christ alone I place my trust.
Yes Suzette. This is a good, good day!
My favorite lines…”Fighting meant being honest with myself and focusing on Truth. It meant resting but not isolating. It meant me not asking someone else to do what only God can do and remembering what He’s already done.” Beautifully written truth, Marie. I’m holding on to these words. Thank you. Great to see you on Easter morning!!
Thank you Joy. The thing about the fight is – we know we’re not alone in it. We have Jesus with us but also there are others fighting with us. Our fight matters….our not giving in and not giving up…..it matters.
Fighting with you and for you …with Jesus!
Thank you for sharing your struggles. And for the reminder to trust & believe that He will finish the work that we’ve started.
And how sweet that He reminds us and is ever patient with our forgetfulness.