Take It All Back

 YouTube Channel Video Devo

https://youtu.be/epW2HGnnM6w?si=jNXUo0enoUA60G6G

“Take It All Back”

John 10:10 NIV

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.

 

The title of this devotional is taken from a new song by Tauren Wells.  In this song, he sings about taking back what the enemy stole.  I have used this passage in several sermons in the past as well as devotionals.  This time, it has really hit home with me in the past year as I’ve found myself struggling through a lot of negative thoughts about myself and my self-esteem being way down so often. 

 

God has been doing a work in and through me for the past year as I’ve dealt with so many negative thoughts about myself.  I was bullied and teased a lot as a child and that has made for a lot of challenges in my adult life through the years.  God has not only blessed me with a supportive family, but also a great Christian therapist who has truly helped me work through many struggles I’ve had.  I’ve also shared a little with you all recently that I’ve battled stress, anxiety and some seasonal depression. 

 

I am being very transparent with you all because I feel like I’m not alone at all in the things that I’m dealing with and experiencing.  I’m hoping that by being transparent some of you will relate and know that you are not alone in this battle.  For a while now, I’ve just really struggled with a lot of negative thoughts have affected my work life and personal life.  I started reading books and watching sermons about winning the war of the mind.  As I read a book and watched sermons by Louie Giglio, I learned that he battled deep depression many years ago.  Thankfully I haven’t fallen into that hole and I hope I never will.

 

One thing Louie said in one of his sermons that really challenged me was that he decided to be very intentional about listening to worship music, even when he didn’t feel like it.  I made that choice in the past month or so and have been listening a lot more to Christian radio and letting those songs fill my mind and soul.  By doing this, I feel like I’m taking back what the enemy stole.   

 

Friends, the enemy is so good at attacking us and stealing our joy in life.  He’s done that so much with me through the years in various ways.  If he can get us to hold onto worry, anxiety, stress and busyness, then we are distracted from what matters most. 

 

Listening a lot more to Christian radio and reading more has really helped me fill my mind with more positive thoughts.  So, I want to encourage us all to be very intentional about feeding our minds with positive things even when we don’t feel like it and we feel down.  It’s made a huge difference in how I feel and now I have these songs stuck in my mind all day long. 

 

Take back what the enemy stole!

This Is Too Hard

 YouTube Channel Video Devo

https://youtu.be/ayfJifpx4z0?si=0JAa0voBd2hbjWTX

“This Is Too Hard”

Matthew 26:39 NLT

He went on a little farther and bowed with his face to the ground, praying, “My Father!  If it is possible, let this cup of suffering be taken away from me.  Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.”

 

I don’t know how many times I’ve used the phrase, “This is too hard” through my life.  I’ve lost count how many times I’ve found myself either thinking this or saying it to someone because of a challenging situation I was in.  I’m sure many of us have said this multiple times as we’ve found ourselves in unwanted, uncomfortable and challenging times. 

 

Who really wants to wake up each day and look forward to challenging times that make life hard?  No one!  I think it’s so important for all of us to take time to focus on this moment in the Garden of Gethsemane where Jesus is so close to His death and He is honestly pleading with His Father to possibly get Him out of the situation.  This is one of the most human situations in all of Scripture.  Jesus knows what He has to do, but He wrestles with this and agonizes over it. 

 

Friends, when we go through hard situations, Jesus knows how it feels.  No matter what pain or agony you are feeling, He is right there with you.  As I pondered this Scripture and scene today, it just made me think of all the times we have all said, “This is too hard” as we experience challenging situations.  There are times we just don’t want to be in and don’t want to deal with.  We’d rather walk away and not deal with the situation in front of us.  We plead with God to remove the hard times so that we don’t have to suffer anymore. 

 

As much as we want to avoid pain, sometimes God needs to use the painful situations to help us grow.  Whatever painful situation you might be experiencing right now in our life, have a real heart to heart conversation with God and tell Him everything you are feeling.  He’s not surprised that you might be pleading with Him.  He wants to hear your agony and your pain and for you to be real with Him.  It doesn’t mean He’s going to take the pain away, but it will bring you much closer to Him.

 

There are many situations in life I wish that I could just steer clear from, but I know that God challenges me and wants me to grow through these to become stronger.  I also know He will be with me through all of it.  I’ve been dealing with a lot of stress and anxiety through the past months in various ways and learning about myself in ways I never considered before.  I know that God is teaching me to deal with what I’m experiencing and He is showing me nothing is too hard to get through with Him. 

 

Every time I think something is too hard for me, I just need to remember what Jesus experienced and I know that I’m not alone.  Whatever your painful time is, know God is with you also.