Teri Gomes

Consider it nothing but joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you fall into various trials. Be assured that the testing of your faith (through experience) produces endurance (leading to spiritual maturity, and inner peace). And let endurance have its perfect result and do a thorough work so that you may be perfect and completely developed (in your faith), lacking nothing.
James 1:2-4 (AMP)

During this Lent season, I think about how Jesus came and died on this earth for our sins. When Jesus died, He took my sins of doubt away. When He was resurrected from the grave, that power that raised Him from the dead empowered me to endure difficult situations. There have been many obstacles I’ve had to overcome to become a licensed teacher. The many struggles of being unable to pass my exam brought feelings of insecurity about past words my former teachers spoke into my life.

They said I wasn’t brilliant and should stick to the basic level because I was incapable. It was hard to believe God’s truth that “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” Philippians 4:13 (NKJV), when I did not pass over and over and over again.

The truth is that, when Jesus died for my sins, what also needed to die was my old thinking, my doubts, and the lies people had told me about myself. Jesus rescued me from these lies, and I have HIS strength, HIS power to endure challenges and make it to the other side.

There may be times in our lives when we feel like we can’t go any further than what is right in front of us. Life gets too hard sometimes, and we may believe that we are in over our heads. When those times come, remember to cry out to God. “I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth.” Psalm 121:1-2 (KJV). God hears us and reminds us of His Word, and He hastens His Word to perform it (Jeremiah 1:12). Yes, we will have hard times, but be encouraged that God has rescued us from all our troubles and given us the strength to endure. By enduring, we become more like Him. We stop believing the enemy’s lies and start to believe God’s truth.

The truth remains that Jesus is walking with us. We are not alone, for He declares, “Lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.” Matthew 28:20 (ASV). He will help us get through our trials and complete our race.

Reflection: What is one thing you need Jesus to rescue you from?

Confession: I declare that when things are hard, I choose to have joy because I know that God is removing weights from my life that are not like Him and is making me more like Him. I declare that I am not alone. Jesus is walking with me through this journey called life.