In the midst of life's mess...

But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us. We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body. For we who live are always delivered to death for Jesus’ sake, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. So then death is working in us, but life in you. And since we have the same spirit of faith, according to what is written, “I believed and therefore I spoke,” we also believe and therefore speak, knowing that He who raised up the Lord Jesus will also raise us up with Jesus, and will present us with you. For all things are for your sakes, that grace, having spread through the many, may cause thanksgiving to abound to the glory of God. Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal. (II Corinthians 4:7, 8, 10-18 NKJV) Those words could not be any more truer...I mean of course, because it's the word of God. But I mean, just looking at it through the lens of typical, everyday, hard life. 

I've been hard-pressed on every side, perplexed, afflicted, and so forth; but, I KNOW that God has so much more in store—good, life, restoration, breakthrough, JOY. Though I'm dying daily, my inward self is coming more to life. How? Because through all of the hard-pressing, perplexed issues of life, the more I seek Jesus and seek to be like Him, the more I find Him and am daily raised to life through Him. As long as I'm physically breathing, the beatings, battles, struggles, and hardships are going to continue; but with Him, those "light afflictions which are but for a moment" are taking me to a place eternally where glory is! GLORY! His glory surrounds me and is within me—that's how I know that this temporary life is well...temporary. There's so much unseen. 

Today, let's pause amongst life's crud and believe for the the glory on the other side. Let's breathe in the unseen, the better days—eternity ahead. He's working all things out for the good of those who love and serve Him. Let's live like we believe it! Oh, oh I'm preaching to myself here big time ;) I truly want to live like what I believe...

Life is hard as it is, but living life without that hope of what's on the other side is even harder. 

In whatever you're walking through today, keep walking. Eventually, you'll come out of it and see so much clearer. Trust me, I'm walking out of a crazy time myself and I'm looking around and seeing so much of what God was and is doing in me. It may be a mess, but it's a beautiful mess. 

It's good to be back to blogging :) I have so many written up and ready to post over the next few weeks. God had me writing, sitting quietly, but still going. Because it's not what I write or say that speaks the most about Him, it's what I do. So, I've been focused on doing. But now, He's given me the okay to share. Ain't He good? Thank You for letting me share Lord. 

And thank you for reading :)

Keep walking,

<3 Erica