Endure for Greater
I think we should all pay back what we owe. The process of repayment is difficult and invokes suffering. While in the middle of challenging times, it helps to think of the goals you hope to accomplish. For example, Jesus knew he would suffer, how he would suffer, and what he was set to achieve through suffering. Looking to something greater than ourselves to obtain greater is what Christ did and serves as our example as explained in Hebrews 12:2.
Our Issues Today
Christ took things a step further by rejecting Satan’s temptations in the wilderness as found in Matthew 4:1-11. The temptations Christ overcame are no different from what we encounter today:
- Desire to satisfy ourselves without relying on God.
- A longing to prove ourselves worthy of association with others.
- Urge to yield power at the cost of legitimate authority.
Sacrifice = Pain
Luke 9:22-24 illustrates Jesus knew the sacrifice he faced for a brighter future. Jesus had a crew of 12 which consisted of his best friends, with one ultimately betraying him. With that said, life’s challenges are difficult to do alone; but it is our faith in Him to see us through the difficult times of life that we see the Lord’s power revealed. I am a testimony of the Lord’s power to lift you out of despair and replace your sorrows in the midst of ongoing troubles with joy.
What Joy Means to Me
Having joy in the Lord does not mean everything will work out fine. My student loans did not just miraculously pay themselves, but I found myself enjoying the process in knowing one day my loan balance would be zero. My joy in Christ did not make times of unemployment, or being passed over for promotions less painful. The joy I have in Christ is a reminder that life gets so much better if I yield life’s outcomes to my creator. I have no regrets for the way things turned out in my life.
Past, Present, and Future
If you regret you are looking back, when you worry you are looking forward. If you aren’t careful, the regret of yesterday and the worry about tomorrow will squeeze you so tightly you won’t have a today.
That’s all for now, until next time everyone. Stay strong! Fight on and have No Debt But Love, peace and blessings!
No Debt But Love 