The Lord will Fight for you, Will you?

I have the opportunity to leave.

I have the chance to decide that this is "too much." Realistically many people would support and understand that decision. I wouldn't be blamed for making it. I wouldn't make anyone angry to say that something was just too hard for me.

But -- this isn't how I feel.

I feel knowingly all too much the pain of staying here. I know that there's potential I could be hurt continuously. Tomorrow, Sunday, Friday or Saturday. It could happen. I could be in pain and I could end up having to cry, a lot. 

There have been many times I have prayed to God the same prayer. I have prayed my life would visibly reflect his love. I prayed that I could care for people in the way he's cared for me. I prayed that I would ultimately through love and service shine light into dark places and make his name known. I have desired to live for his kingdom and not my own. I have gone into dark places. I have endured hard things. Yet with his strengthen -- I have endured it. I have trusted in his promises and sought refuge in his unfailing love.

Jeremiah 32:27
I am the LORD, the God of all mankind. Is anything too hard for me?

Exodus 14:14
The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.

So -- If I know this. Then I think, "How can I walk away? How can I say that anything or anyone is too much to deal with?" Those thoughts are not of Christ. They don't reflect the kingdom or his ability to love us in every aspect of our life despite all our brokenness. They are purely from a heart that is selfish and says, "I deserve better" although Christ died on the cross for me because I am a sinner in need of a savior. Who am I to say I need something greater? 

So I think instead, "I have a choice here: I can choose to love myself or I can choose to serve God." I can choose to, with Christ see redemption and restoration of a child of God back to himself. I can choose to work alongside this person and endure the hardships with them. I can recognize that I will be hurt in the process and I may not ever like that. But I can trust that God is bigger then my own pain. I can trust that Christ will be exemplified in this. I can trust and be joyful as redemption and healing occur because I know they will. I can trust that things are hard but nothing is too hard for God.

I have never questioned this choice. I have never had a doubt. I have never thought to leave even if I had a chance too. I will stay. I will fight for you. I will fight on behalf of what I believe is good, true, and wonderful about us together. 

I will long to serve you by directing you to Christ. I will seek to with Christ care for you in the way he cares for you. I will always try to speak truth into your life and honor you in every aspect of my capability. I pray I will remind you of Christ. I pray I will love you like Christ which means never making you feel crummy, unlovable, unforgivable or broken. 

Even when you don't think you are -- God thinks you are beautiful. You are his treasure to be adored and cherished.

Ecclesiastes 3:11
"He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end."

Draw near to God and he will draw near to you. You are stronger then the devil because the spirit lives in you & Jesus cares for you. You will not be cast away because of sin but redemption will occur and you will be able to watch how God will continue to rebuild you into a fortress that will bring him the upmost glory. 

The Lord will fight for you -- will you fight for others?