Thriving Through Difficulties

Many I know are going through very difficult times at the moment. That also includes our family as we deal with Dan's parents and their health issues. There are days when we feel overwhelmed by it all and I know our friends feel the same way with their own situations. 

At times, it is difficult to know how to pray other than, "Lord, please remove this problem!" And yet, when I look at the passage in Romans 8, I am thankful that we have the Holy Spirit who intercedes for us.

Romans 8:26-27 ~

"In the same way the Spirit also joins to help in our weakness, because we do not know what to pray for as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with unspoken groanings. And He who searches the hearts knows the Spirit’s mind-set, because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God."

As I read that passage yesterday, the underlined parts spoke to me. Much of the time, I don't know what I need as I go through something and I certainly, don't always know how to pray. The only thing I know is that it is unpleasant and I want it to be over. Yet, the Lord knows exactly what I need. When I trust Him, lean in to Him and seek Him, the difficulties will mold me into a woman that He can use for His glory. 

So as we walk through our difficulties and come before the Lord in prayer, we can be certain that the Spirit is interceding for us that God's will would be done in our circumstances. Hard times are not pleasant and no one wants to go through them. But those hard times are often the very thing that cause us to grow closer to the Lord and also to stretch and grow as a person. 

My word this year is thrive and I know that this also means thriving in difficult circumstances. The only way that will happen is if I daily come to the Lord and rely on His strength and seek His will for my life. I also ask for wisdom on how to deal with the situation.

When we do that, the Spirit intercedes on our behalf, and we can be assured that God is doing a work in us as we walk through the difficult times. We can also have assurance that He will provide what we need for the moment we need it.

In our own strength we will be overwhelmed and unsure and yet, with God's help can thrive through the difficult times.