Sometimes I find myself in a hole. Often the world’s pressures are so heavy that you can’t do otherwise. It’s here in the hole where I wonder who I really am and whether I’m good enough. 

I’ve already learned not to focus on myself when that happens, because I see all the mistakes I make, and then I tend to crawl even deeper into the hole. I realise that my worth does not actually lie in myself. 

So, I go to God’s Word to hear what He says to and about me. God has a very different view of me. He is the one who created me, and as the saying goes: “God made no junk.”  

Sometimes, just one verse makes me jump out of that hole, like this: 10The suffering won’t last forever. It won’t be long before this generous God who has great plans for us in Christ—eternal and glorious plans they are!—will have you put together and on your feet for good. 

Wow, this verse says so much for and about me and about my circumstances. The first is that we will suffer sometimes. It’s part of life. When you open your eyes in the morning, there is a chance that a thundercloud may move in somewhere during the day. 

Maybe you, like me, will fall into a hole. Maybe it’s the doctor who delivers the bad news or maybe it’s the bank that doesn’t let the transaction go through because there are not enough funds in your account. We aren’t spared hardship and God’s children aren’t guaranteed the inside lane in life. 

It’s not good news, but we don’t need to be afraid. You see, each of us whom God calls to believe in Jesus, qualifies to have a personal bodyguard. We can count on God’s assistance.  

These promises are for you too. God will restore you. God himself will come and panel beat the dents caused by the pain and hardship in your life. He will bring you back to your place of honour. He will make right again what life has made wrong. 

That which has been taken from you, the value that has been stripped from you, the power that others have stolen from you, leaving you powerless, God will come and give all of it back to you so that you can once again walk through life with your head held high. 

When life has beaten you black and blue until you limp, God splints your legs, and slowly but surely helps you get well so that you can skip through life again. 

Unfortunately, this restoration, empowerment, strengthening and getting back on our feet do not happen with the snap of a finger. It’s a long process that often frustrates us. Yet we must not be discouraged. 

God is busy with us. He does not leave us alone to push our own burdens out of the way ourselves. He is an involved God who walks with us all the way. Know that. Hold on to it an renew your courage by the knowledge that God will bring us back to where we were at some point. He will restore our power and strength so that we can once again reclaim our rightful place in life. 

Scripture
1 Peter 5:8-11

Reflection
Do you believe that God has called you?
Do you believe that God will help you in hard times?
Where do you need God? 

Prayer
Father, I really need You so much. I can’t get through life on my own. I won’t make it without You. Thank you very much for Your promises of restoration, empowerment, strengthening and getting me on my feet again.   Amen.