The Struggle is Not in Vain

But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.

2 Corinthians 12:9 NIV

I’ve been blessed with a lot of good times in my life, but I’ve also been on the struggling side way more times than I would have liked. During struggles, I couldn’t see their value and begged for God to take them away. But now, I understand his purpose a bit more fully. Just a bit!

I am on the recovering end of fighting my way through clinical depression, which was induced by some pretty ugly circumstances. For several years, my head was in a daily fog, tears came at the drop of a hat, and fear and doom were my constant companions. Every moment of my day was a struggle. But the one thing I learned while I was hanging from the smallest, most frail thread of hope, was that Jesus is faithful. On my journey, I felt his presence and heard his words more clearly than any other time in my life.

Well, here I am on the upside, and as my mind clears, I walk more steadily, and joy is becoming the norm. Yet, sadly today, I realized that in the last months, my ‘need’ for Jesus has waned. I’ve become more self-reliant and less dependent on Him for my very next step. Though I don’t wish to go back to my struggling days, I miss the nearness of my Jesus. When I was weak, he was strong. Therein lie the power and purpose of the struggle.

During our struggles, we develop a relationship with Jesus. As we lean into him, he reveals his character to us. As we cry out, he responds with love and mercy. As we seek forgiveness, he offers abundant grace. When the pressure is on, we seek, and he reveals. In the struggles, he heals our hurts and creates a hunger within us for more of him.

Friend, I share this with you because your pain has a purpose. God is drawing you near as pain has a way of making you seek His face and hunger for his Word. Whatever you are facing today, do not lose heart. Know that at just the right time, you will find freedom from this concern or pain. But in the meantime, relish his nearness. Cry out for his strength, protection, and power. Allow him to hold you and wipe your tears. His power is made perfect in your weakness. The struggle is not in vain.