This saying is trustworthy:
If we have died with him
we shall also live with him;
if we persevere
we shall also reign with him. (2 Tm 2:11-12a)
For many people, life is an exciting journey and a great joy.
For others, life is filled with tension, doubt, anxiety, and fear.
When we struggle, we often believe that we do so alone. We do not see the people in our lives who are there for us and who might even be trying to help us.
Instead, we have this incredible feeling of loneliness.
If we persevere, God will be with us. Not only will He be with us, He will help us to overcome our struggles and will lead us to victory.
How do we get to victory?
Death.
We must, while on earth, die to our selves — casting aside ambition, greed, envy, and a host of other spiritual ills — so that we may live for the Lord. When we do so, we find the strength that we need to continue.
As well, when we die to our selves on a regular basis, we find it much easier, at that final moment of our lives, to trust the Lord who leads us through death to life eternal.
God will never let us go. He holds on for dear life. It is we who have the tendency to lose our grip.
Hold on to the Lord this day and let Him aid you in your struggles.
FAITH ACTION: What areas of your spiritual life — or life in general — cause you to struggle? Ask the Lord for the grace that you need to overcome your struggle(s) and to persevere today.