What do you do when you are ready to throw in the towel…when you have been facing trials for extended periods of time…when you’ve tried everything you know to try? You are hurting and you just wish the pain would stop. Where do you find strength?

The first thing you do is to hold on to your story – the story of what God has already done in your life, how He has shown up in powerful ways before. The first thing you do is that you remember! And you thank God for what He has done and what He will do. You pray. You turn to scripture.

“For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope. May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had…” (Rom. 15:4-5, NIV)

Did you get that? “Everything” that was written was written so that we would be “encouraged” and we would “endure.”

Jesus taught us that in order to have a Sunday, you must first have a Friday. Before there is a resurrection there must first be a crucifixion… as He is formed in us. We dare not take our eyes off Jesus for one second.

Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. (Heb 12:2-3,NIV)

How did Jesus get through the crucifixion? He focused on what He was gaining in the process – the profound love that He shares with us, His love poured out yesterday, today and forever! When you hurt remember He is there in that moment with you. The Lord is near. Reach out and touch Him.

Remember the Singing Oaks vision:

“We are called to love God and to love others as Jesus loved. We believe that this decision to love matures in each of us as the power of the Holy Spirit works through us to make disciples.”