WHERE YOUR RUBBER MEETS THE ROAD...

Her husband has decided to be an atheist.
He just got back from a mission trip and fears the sting of what he saw will fade.
She was sick for 2 years.
Her man was deployed for a year.
They lost a child hours after he was born.
Her mind has become a battlefield.

As we sat in class discussing how we get through the dark times, I heard or thought about these stories I knew to be true. The answer was the same - you stay in the body of Christ, you focus on what you know to be true, you get deep in scripture. You choose.
As I sat there listening, I couldn't help think of how we, sometimes, can make it sound like an easy choice, like if you're a good Christian it should not be difficult, and how unfair that is of us. We make newbies think they are failing if they struggle with it. We make older Christians want to hide their struggles because they should be better and be stronger by now.
It is not always the easy choice. It takes work. It takes being intentional and deliberate.
As I said to one, do not let anyone condemn you for being afraid, or for crying, or for being upset. You need to shed those tears and you need to be honest in those fears. However, in the midst of all that is where your rubber meets the road. At the bottom of all those emotions and vain imaginations and hurts, you must make the choice to believe Jesus or not. We all have to make that choice. And it's usually not a one time decision. You may have to choose every day, you may have to choose it every hour, or you may have to choose it with every thought.
And only you can make it.
We can believe Jesus for you.
We can pray and intercede for you.
We can encourage you.
But we can not choose for you.
You choose.
And you can not choose for me.
I choose.

Today, if the darkness is trying to overtake, if the tears come up like a fresh hit oil well, if the fears try to cripple your every muscle, you take every bit of that before God. You be honest and you pour it all before the feet of Jesus. Don't try to hide it. Don't try to act like a good Christian who has it all under control. You lay it all out. If need be, you lay it all before a trusted brother or sister in Christ as well. You unload all your baggage you have been carrying on your walk, and then you let that rubber hit the road. You choose. One foot in front of the other in steps surrendered to Jesus Christ. You stay in the body, you restate over and over what you know to be true about the heart and character of God, and you dig up Scripture.

Each step will become more sure.
Each mile walked will be with more confidence.
Not in you but in Him.
Your knees will steady, your back will straighten, and your head will look up.
Soon you will see that on this narrow road, you do not walk alone.
He chooses to walk with you.

Psalm 9:9-10 (NKJV)

The Lord also will be a refuge for the oppressed,
A refuge in times of trouble.
And those who know Your name will put their trust in You;
For You, Lord, have not forsaken those who seek You.