What Happens After You Struggle?


I love using the verse of the day on my Bible app on my phone. This year has been a little intense and intimate in my relationship with Jesus, through the verse of the day. I have just HEARD him through each verse, each morning. It has been a precious kiss each day as I begin.
"Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain." 1 Corinthians 14:58


Andrew and I seem to be in a season of restoration right now and for the last month, the verses that have come across my notification bar have been affirming our endurance, our hard work, and our steadfastness.

We have struggled for so long, laboring, toiling, fighting (together, against each other, apart, etc.) and we finally seem to be having a rest in the corner, being watered and toweled off. Preparing for the next round of the fight.

I'm sure the next fight won't look like this last one, maybe we will be struggling more with our parenting than our children, maybe we will be struggling more on the inside than the outside, which ever it might be, we are resting NOW.

Andrew shared with me that he had just a sweet, sweet day with the Lord the other day.

When he first was hired at his new job (wife fail of the day award goes to me - I have NO clue what the company he works for is called...) we KNEW that it was a gift from God and He had orchestrated everything to set it up just right for Andrew.

This has been so affirmed through the days and weeks that Andrew has spent their already.

Andrew had Psalm 1 spoken to his heart the other day and as he was reading it to me, I could just see that where Andrew is working, is exactly where he NEEDS to be.

Blessed is the man
    who walks not in the counsel of the wicked,
nor stands in the way of sinners,
    nor sits in the seat of scoffers;
 but his delight is in the law of the Lord,
    and on his law he meditates day and night.
 He is like a tree
    planted by streams of water
that yields its fruit in its season,
    and its leaf does not wither.
In all that he does, he prospers.
 The wicked are not so,
    but are like chaff that the wind drives away.
 Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment,
    nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous;
 for the Lord knows the way of the righteous,
    but the way of the wicked will perish.

Andrew has needed this. We have been praying for this for him all of our 8 years together. He is finally in a place where he is surrounded by Christian men that are building him up, he has time to reflect on all of the Scriptures that he memorized through school.

He was really blessed by the sweet day he had with the Holy Spirit's whispers, and I rejoice.

It's really incredible to see your husband flourishing, not only in his job, but suddenly on fire, and passionate for loving Jesus. For working with his hands and celebrating talking to the Holy Spirit and opening up to hear Him.

I am completely washed over with humility, I feel myself on my knees, rejoicing, singing in my heart, for we do not deserve this rest or personal interaction with Almighty God, but He loves us so.

His love is washing over us and I can just feel it consuming both of us on the other side of all of our struggles.

Not only that, but he has been SHOWING us where he WAS during our struggling. He never left us, he never stopped loving us or pursuing us.


All of the trials that we have endured, while enduring faithfully, we never FULLY turned around to look in the eyes of our Savior and walk on water. We stumbled, fumbled, gulped some water in, it splashed in our eyes and we squinted, but we kept trying. As best as we could.

It just seems that the sun is finally peaking out, and we can finally grasp our footing long enough to make eye contact and now we keep walking.

Perhaps the storms will be easier to whether now, on the other side. Now that we've adjusted our focus, are reaching even harder to grasp Jesus's hand as he extends it and backs up, saying, "Come on, sweet one! You can do it, just a few more steps! Keep your eyes on me, keep reaching, you're almost there. Your days are like blinks to me, it won't be long and you'll be here with me...Keep coming, ignore that booboo, I'm right here!"

Keep reaching friend, his arm has never wearied so much that he dropped it while you reached.

Your struggle is real, it is meaningful, it is changing you, keep your eyes on Jesus and the changes will be beautiful.


3 comments

  1. We've had struggles with finances and employment recently too, and it seems we're coming out on the other side. So wonderful to look back and see how God was working in the midst of the struggles.

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  2. wow Kayla, you'll never know how your words touched my heart, God has reached a spot in me that I've
    needed since your grandpa passed.
    crying with joy.
    love you
    Grandma , love <3

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  3. All of the trials that we have endured, while enduring faithfully, we never FULLY turned around to look in the eyes of our Savior and walk on water. We stumbled, fumbled, gulped some water in, it splashed in our eyes and we squinted, but we kept trying. As best as we could.

    It just seems that the sun is finally peaking out, and we can finally grasp our footing long enough to make eye contact and now we keep walking.

    Perhaps the storms will be easier to whether now, on the other side. Now that we've adjusted our focus, are reaching even harder to grasp Jesus's hand as he extends it and backs up, saying, "Come on, sweet one! You can do it, just a few more steps! Keep your eyes on me, keep reaching, you're almost there. Your days are like blinks to me, it won't be long and you'll be here with me...Keep coming, ignore that booboo, I'm right here!"

    Keep reaching friend, his arm has never wearied so much that he dropped it while you reached.

    Your struggle is real, it is meaningful, it is changing you, keep your eyes on Jesus and the changes will be beautiful.
    These are the beautiful words that God used to reach me!
    Grandma

    ReplyDelete