Sweet Victory

Watch here 👉https://youtu.be/982PKhPsIHk?si=f-pmwSB8Q_9P0xy7

We love a good Before/ After story don’t we?  A neat and tidy victorious turnaround after the wildest mess of a situation, all tied up with a bow on top. Praise God for testimonies like these!! But what about stories whose hardships have an ongoingness about them? Loss, grief, chronic pain, long term illness, or trauma that just won’t go away?

What about then? Where is the victory in that?

Although these storylines are not often glowing and shiny and easily celebrated by culture - there is a beautiful miracle at their center nonetheless. The miracle is still the Blood. The miracle is as true for chronic strugglers as it is for those with present triumphs - that God has entered into the messiness of our lives and forever paid the price for our sin and brokenness when we could not save ourselves. What this means for us still wading in struggle is multidimensional. Firstly, it means we can one day end our fight with eternity in His presence. The Sweet Victory at the end of our road. Many of us cannot hardly wait for this day.

But, is this Victory only far off, for us to spend our lives white-knuckling through our hardships, squinting into the distance in order to glimpse hope? Thank goodness, no! He gives us this Sweet Victory NOW as well, by giving us Himself. His peace, His strength, and love unimaginable — All ours to those who call Him Savior. And more than this.. God redeems our pain for our good and His glory, which is surely the most mysterious thing I have ever been a part of. It’s not always clear how, but we can know He is at work sovereignly accomplishing His will and allowing our storylines to be a part of it.

In the disorientation that comes amid the heavy fog of chronic illness, I remind myself of the promise that Sweet Victory is mine - today, tomorrow, and forever because of the blood of Jesus.

I whip this song out by singer and chronic illness fighter Trip Lee whenever I need to be reminded of these truths, and I hope it finds someone who needs it today. These truths are shelter on a rainy day, but more applicable to some of us - it is sustaining water in the middle of a long drought.

Say it with me -

• God is WITH US in our pain

• He REDEEMS it

• HEAVEN is coming

The link again 👉 https://youtu.be/982PKhPsIHk?si=f-pmwSB8Q_9P0xy7

“… In me, you may have peace. In this world, you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

John 16:33