The Struggle Is Real

This may not be the most touchy-feely picture to see on a Tuesday morning, but I couldn’t help but see a life lesson screaming from this sight the other day! Dan and I were sitting by the pool, catching up on life after his return from his mission trip to Mississippi, when an ant nonchalantly walks by, pulling this bug.

Clearly the ant is carrying well over 3x it’s body weight, if not more, and all I could think of was “wow, I sure feel like that too…”

We have been through some dark times in our life. By dark, I mean struggles that changed who we believed who we were in God’s eyes, struggles that led us to believe lies, and struggles that have made us feel much like an ant, wondering how much more do we have to carry? Struggles that led us to throw up our hands and say “we’ve got nothing left God!”

I’m sure you’ve been there. In fact I know you’ve been there. I truly think we’ve all been there in someway, somewhere in our lives. I’m sure right now, you are replaying an incident in your life.

You’ve heard the saying “the struggle is real” being thrown around, in more of a joking context. As much as the statement and portrayal of our circumstance may come across as more of a joke, there are times in life when truly, the struggle is real.

Look back up at that picture of the ant carrying that bug. When’s the last time you felt like that ant? Do you feel like that ant right now? Do you feel you have the weight of the world on your shoulders right now? Do you feel so weighed down by not only your circumstances, but by others, that you wonder how much more can I take?

My friend, took a look at that picture, AGAIN. I know, enough of the ant and the dead bug, right? Instead of seeing that picture as one of hardship, look at it as a confidence builder. As a “I CAN DO THIS” attitude. Because you know what? YOU CAN.

Philippians 4:13 – I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

Do you believe that? Do you REALLY believe that? To the point where you don’t just believe it in certain situations, but in EVERY situation? That really CAN give you the strength to conquer anything that comes your way? Now with that said, that doesn’t mean that God will make your path filled with lavender and roses. That doesn’t mean that there will be no hardship in the journey. In fact, sometimes God’s will may mean going through the deepest depths of a valley, in order to make His glory and His name known. But when we seek Him, seek His will, and seek His face, He WILL give us the strength to get through it.

I have an open heart surgery lurking in my future, the date to be determined, and if I allow myself to go there, I could get pretty down about it, thinking about all of the negative about it. Trust me, it is a daily battle. It’s a daily choice to not let the reality of it take over what God is trying to do. Trust me, and I’ll say it again, it is a DAILY battle, and there are times when I let fear take over. I worry about Mazy. I worry about Dan. I worry if the surgery will go well. I worry if the surgery will work. But right at that time, I have just let it go and picture that ant carrying that bug. I need to remember that GOD will give me the strength if I ask for it, allowing faith to move mountains. I can do nothing tangible to make the situation better, but keep the faith that God knows exactly what He is doing.

We ALL have choose to let Christ be on our side. You see, fear and worry, can easily replace that strength if we let it, weakening us and what God is trying to do in our lives. The struggle IS real. But how are we going to look at that picture?

Daily I have to choose to see myself as that ant with a power not of my own, but a strength that only God can give!