Victory in Pain

"Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift all of you as wheat.  But, I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail.   And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers."  Luke 22:31-32

My friends, Satan is active.  If you are going through hard times, let this verse be an encouragement to you. 

Some of you are going through unimaginably hard things in your lives.  You are grieving seemingly unbearable losses.  You've lost children, parents, friends.  You're suffering through the effects of broken relationships and divorce.  You've lost jobs, finances, homes.  Life threatening diseases threaten the lives of you or someone you love.  Indeed Satan is hard at work.

But, just like Jesus prayed for Simon, I pray for you today that "your faith may not fail".  And that "WHEN you have

turned back" you will "strengthen your brothers".   That you will use what you've been through to help others that are going through the same things.  Not because you're "over it" or have "conquered it" but because you've been where they are at and you are just a little farther along on the journey.  

Believe me, you can find purpose in your pain.  You can glorify God in your pain.  Hold steady to the course.  The victory is yours.