Women's Devo | November 2020

Have you ever wanted throw in the towel and quit? Have you ever asked the Lord, “Why me, Lord?” Being a pastor’s wife is a title that requires me to wear many hats, to have many sleepless nights and to deal with people from all walks of life, in general. I’m sure everyone can relate to this, whether you are a pastor’s wife, or not. Life hits you in the face. The pressures of life rides on your shoulders and at times, it gets so heavy. We have all been there at some point in our lives. We have just wanted to “quit.”  It is in those moments that God gently whispers, “You are not alone.” Although in the stress of life, you may feel like the Energizer Bunny and find it hard to even breathe, you can have the calm assurance that you are not alone. You do matter, and whatever struggle you may be going through, this too shall pass.

Everyone experiences loneliness at some point in their lives. Loneliness is a silent killer. Paul and Silas found themselves in a jail cell. I’m confident that they experienced a moment of loneliness, but they did something about it. They praised their way through their circumstances. As they worshipped in their current circumstances, that is when God showed up and did what only He could do. We all know the story. God moved the mountain that stood in their way and set them free. He turned what could have ended in defeat into a victory. Loneliness can make you doubt your purpose or your position in life. We have all had moments when we wish we could have a “Do Over” in life, right? It is in these moments that if we aren’t careful, we can fall prey to the enemy’s whispers to just give up and quit. We need to recognize this is bait Satan uses to discourage, discredit, and dishonor our self-worth, our abilities, our calling, our purpose, our zeal and our “want to.”

Loneliness can produce fear and fear attacks our minds. It can cause us to assume that things appear to be something they are not. We need to cast down those imaginations. Have you ever thought, “Why did you have to call me, Lord?”  And He responds by saying, “I did not call you; I chose you.” To be chosen means you were purposefully selected. You were hand-picked. It is through all of life’s adversities that God says, “I am growing you to where and who I want you to be.” This stretches us. We may get uncomfortable at times. We may even feel worn out.  However, God breathes a fresh breath of life into us and we continue on the journey that is set before us.

LIFE HURTS! When life isn’t what you have hoped or planned for it to be, it hurts. Be careful when you ask God to grow you in Him. Be prepared because growing pains will come, and they do hurt. It is in these moments that only God almighty can help you. He is your comfort. He’s your shoulder to cry on. You can have a sense of just crawling up into your Heavenly Father’s arms and calling on “Daddy.” It’s then that He whispers, “You will be okay.  I’ve got you.” Your struggle may be real but keep holding on. God says in Galatians 6:9, “For in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.” So, hold on! Be encouraged, today. You are not alone. We are all in this together, and together we are going to make it through. Quitting is Not an option!!!