The Struggle is Real

With my second book, The Merchant's Yield, launching, I feel like a mother sending my young son to his first sleepover or off to his first year of college (which will happen sooner than I realize). My nerves are twisted in knots, and all I can do is pray it will be received well. You never feel so helpless than when you have to surrender up something you love.

But I couldn't imagine a better place for it to be than in God's hands.

Fanny Jane Crosby, the composer of the well-known hymn "Blessed assurance," was born blind. Not only did she write over 9,000 hymns, but her life was also an example of trusting God and walking by faith. Despite the hardships of being blind, she considered her blindness a blessing:  

"It seemed intended by the blessed providence of God that I should be blind all my life, and I thank him for the dispensation. If perfect earthly sight were offered me tomorrow I would not accept it. I might not have sung hymns to the praise of God if I had been distracted by the beautiful and interesting things about me." (Franny Crosby: America's Hymn Queen, Christianity.com, April 2010)

Franny Crosby never started writing a hymn without praying first.

I was recently asked why God wasn't stopping the coronavirus. Tough question. I mentioned about the earth being cursed. When sin entered the world, so did death, but then an awareness hit me. I questioned if they'd prayed to God to stop it?

At that moment, I had to check myself. Sure, I'd prayed for protection over my family and friends, but had I asked God to put an end to the virus?

James 4:2 says, "You do not have because you have not asked God."

You better believe I've started asking. Can God stop the coronavirus tomorrow? Yes, He could. God's arm is never too short. Will He stop it tomorrow? That, I don't know, but I do know the prayers of the righteous avail much, and if we're praying, God will be merciful.

This, too, will pass, but in the meantime, God will use it to draw His children to Him. The virus is a reminder that this is not our home. We are temporary residents—missionaries on a strange planet. Our home is in heaven, where there is no sickness, death, or disease.

I saw written on a T-shirt, "The struggle is real, but so is God," and I couldn't help thinking, how true. I have blessed assurance because I know God is real. He never wastes a hurt, and He certainly isn't about to overlook this one.  

Don't miss a post! Sign up for my weekly blog post by clicking here: Lorri's blog