Tough Times Never Last

You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. 2 Timothy 2:3 (NKJV)

Years ago I read a book by Robert Schuller called: “Tough Times Never Last But Tough People Do.” I have never forgotten that book or its message. I have found it to be true over the years. The fact is that tough times come upon us all, no one is immune to tough times. And another fact is that even though we will all face tough times, if we will remain faithful, and depend upon God, and keep plodding forward--we will endure and overcome the tough times. I know that is easier said than done, but I also know it is true.

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. 2 Corinthians 4:16-18 (NKJV)

And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. Galatians 6:9 (NKJV)

When I hear about someone, or from someone, who is going through a really terrible time, I wish that I could remove their burden, and somehow fix their situation. But in most cases I cannot solve their problem, or remove their difficulty. I know that when all is said and done, only God can give a person the strength and wisdom and ability to overcome their obstacles, and to endure their difficulties. No one else can live through our tough times for us, but for those of us who know Jesus as Lord and Savior, we can know that we are not alone, Jesus is with us in our trials and hardships.

There is a story about the Apostle Peter. It seems that at the end of Peter’s life, he was being persecuted, and was fleeing from the persecution. But he met Jesus on the road, and Peter asked what Jesus was doing there. Jesus told Peter that He, Jesus, was going to Rome to be crucified again. At those words, Peter turned around, and headed back to Rome, understanding that it was time to face the tough road of martyrdom that Jesus had laid out for him. At first glance this is not a cheerful story, but what I take from it is that Jesus knows about the difficulties that lay before us, and that He goes with us into difficulties, even challenges that are far beyond our own strength to endure.

teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen. Matthew 28:20

Christian, you are not alone in this world, and you are not alone in facing the tough times that enter your life. It is not easy to deal with hard times, and the weight of such times can weary us to the bone, and drag us down to the ground. Yet I have noticed that there comes a point in every challenging situation where we must make a decision, sometimes stubbornly, sometimes humbly, sometimes in sheer frustration, to decide that the tough time is not going to be the end of us, that we are not orphans in the world, subject to its whims, but rather we are the children of God, with all the rights and privileges that come from God our Father. We must determine, in spite of our weaknesses and feelings, in spite of our terrible situation, and without denying the reality of the hardship, that we are either going to survive the situation, or go down fighting, for tough times never last, but tough people do.

Dear Lord, we do not always feel tough, or able to face the challenges that come our way, yet we are not without help. Fill us with Your Spirit and power, and give us the strength and courage to face our tough times. Amen.

Karlton Douglas

Copyright 2016