When is this battle going to end? If you’ve ever thought that then this is for you.
There’s a song I found recently that I’ve had on repeat – just from the lyrics I can’t help but think how amazing it’s been that Jesus has always been with me, has never left me and provided exactly what I needed in each season – even if I didn’t like the way he was providing.
The song is called Starts and Ends by Hillsong United and the lyrics are about a journey through the starts and ends we’ll experience in life.
The start of battles
In our walks with Christ we often find ourselves in battles in every season. These battles come in different forms such as forgiveness, doubt, saying no to the flesh or even just battling to have peace in life.
These battles can leave us feeling hopeless and searching for answers. It makes us feel like we’re about to come undone. It’s in these battles where we often learn the most about Jesus and what he wants to do in our lives but it’s extremely difficult to see that sometimes while in the battle. It feels like a dead end.
“If my heart is a battleground. My defenses run both ways. The flesh is a begger and thief. But there is a Spirit-man awakening in me. When real life and peace won’t make amends. When all these starts start to feel like these ends. Like the world is unraveling.”
What battle are you facing right now? What’s the battle that has your attention?
If it’s got your attention it’s got God’s attention. God knows and understands what you are going through – he knows about the battle you are facing.
You keep track of all my sorrows. You have collected all my tears in your bottle. You have recorded each one in your book. (Psalm 56:8)
The middle
The middle is not fun. The middle is where we feel misunderstood. The middle is where the enemy tries to make us feel worthless and invalid – he tries to make us forget our identity.
There’s hope while in the middle. Even though you can’t see the end, even though you can’t make sense of what’s going on in the middle, it’s not permanent.
Jesus is with you and has a word for you in the middle…
Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. (Matthew 11:28 NLT)
Jesus wants you to lay your burden on him. He wants to take it from you. He understands the weight is to much to carry on your own. He knows that you don’t have the answers and he wants to be your comfort in the middle.
He wants to take that pain and redeem it. Even if the middle was brought about because of something that you did to cause it. Place your burden, your dead end, in Jesus’ hands. Let him bare it.
“All the thing I’ve done. All the times I’ve run. All my dead ends redeemed.”
The end
Jesus wants to be your rest, your peace and your reconciler. He can be all of these when we surrender to him and let him have everything in life – even our burdens.
I think we forget sometimes that the Jesus specializes in turning graves into gardens, at taking what’s broken and making it beautiful. If it’s not a garden, he’s not done.
The suffering won’t last forever. It won’t be long before this generous God who has great plans for us in Christ—eternal and glorious plans they are!—will have you put together and on your feet for good. He gets the last word; yes, he does. (1 Peter 5:10 MSG)
Jesus always gets the last word in every battle. Jesus will not leave you in a battle, when he’s done working, splitting the seas for you and showing you grace, you’ll be saying these words found in the lyrics on the other side:
“You’re my death to life. You’re the wonder I breath. You’re my can’t explain. First and last refrain. You’re my every good thing.”
See, if it’s not good for you, he’s not done! You are a child of the most high God and he loves you to much to see you suffer forever. It will come to an end – that’s a promise from God.
Reflect:
What’s your battle right now in life? It could be something big or small? Financial or relational. Anything that’s burdening you is what Jesus wants to work out.
- Have you surrendered the battle to Jesus?
- What have you been turning to for comfort while in the middle?
Prayer:
“Jesus I pray that this situation be yours. Move in this God and may whatever your will is be done. I transfer my burden to you. Amen.”
Bryant Westbrook 