Yesterday I found myself drawn to Philippians 4:13 which I’ve read in the context often of “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” but yesterday I read it in the Amplified version which reads “I can do all things [which He has called me to do] through Him who strengthens and empowers me to [fulfill His purpose—I am self-sufficient in Christ’s sufficiency; I am ready for anything and equal to anything through Him who infuses me with inner strength and confident peace.] I’ve allowed myself to become so overwhelmed lately because of the pressure I’ve put on myself and have allowed others to put on me. I turned 31 years old and I’m not married (yet), I don’t have the home I thought I would own at 25 (yet), I don’t have my dream SUV (yet), I don’t have my degree (yet). When I was younger I always visualized 25 as being my year of completion; when everything would come together. I got into an altercation with a family member on Facebook where she attacked my motherhood, financial status, my church which is awesome by the way and the link is provided if you would like to be a part of our service (https://www.facebook.com/thelighthouseworshipchurch), and the well-being of my children. I can admit that in the past I have been passive aggressive. I have allowed people to treat me like a doormat and I forgive and put myself back in the position that placed me on the floor. This time was different. I had to be honest about the fact that there were things that were said that I could not bounce back from and I am still in the process of forgiving. I was very open and honest about how I felt and was met with a heartbreaking response. I felt like a failure because a part of me believed that I actually had not accomplished anything and was wasting away. I looked at the societal standards of being successful which is more about the physical (what it looks like) rather than the spiritual (beyond the surface) I couldn’t recall the times that I was able to make memorabilia of a suicide note. I didn’t think about the time where someone I “dated”, laced marijuana with K2 or even the time when that same person begged me to have a child with him and forgive the lacing stunt he pulled which I declined, moved to another state and murdered a woman that was pregnant with his child and her two children because the “devil told him to do it”. I couldn’t think about how God called me to minister because I was one of His chosen. I didn’t think about how He is so good of a God that in spite of how I ran from the call and questioned it, He still saw fit that I was worth protecting. He finds value in me when I couldn’t find it in myself. He provides all that I need and more and extends grace even more so by providing what I want. There are a lot of pressures people can put on me, but the pressure of whether I will serve God is one that will never move me. He’s been too good, too gracious, too merciful. Philippians 4:13 AMP says to me that I am self-sufficient in Christ’s sufficiency, which means that I don’t need the validation of man. Man can’t invalidate what God has validated. If God approves of us we don’t have to have the approval of people. If you’re reading this and you’re also someone in a battle of meeting societal time standards and things aren’t what you thought they should be..if you take nothing else from this take that God knows what He is doing. There’s some things that if He gave to you right now you wouldn’t be able to manage just yet. Trust God’s timing. You may have pressure from around you but don’t allow it to consume you. What’s displayed on the outside is not always displayed on the inside. Some people can have it all and still be spiritually empty which is a position that is worse than having empty pockets. Can I just tell you that through whatever societal pressure you’re feeling that you are an Overcomer! You may not have a brand new car or a car at all but you removed yourself from an abusive relationship, you may not have a pocket full of money but you managed to overcome abusing drugs, you have overcome alcoholism, you have overcome suicidal thoughts, tendencies, and ideations. You have overcome prostitution. You have overcome! Above all you have overcome those things because of our savior Jesus Christ who overcame all by sacrificing His life on the cross. I pray that you find the value in where you are now, that you find contentment in whatever situation you are in right now because you are not there by happenstance, I pray for you to experience divine intervention. I pray that you allow these circumstances to turn you to God and not away. I pray for your mental stability, your health, and that God pours out spiritual abundance. I pray that you allow yourself to find comfort in the loving arms of our loving Father. I also pray that as I pray for you that you pray for me.
I leave you with this scripture and whenever you feel those pressures overwhelming you that this be what picks you up. Stay encouraged! Stay motivated! Keep overcoming! & Keep going!
John 16:33 “I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have [perfect] peace. In the world you have tribulation and distress and suffering, but be courageous [be confident, be undaunted, be filled with joy]; I have overcome the world.” [My conquest is accomplished, My victory abiding.]”
