Today's Passage: 2 Corinthians 6

I had a really hard past two weeks. I was on a mission trip and it did not go well, according to my human standards. There was problem after problem. There was sickness after sickness. There was logistical nightmare after logistical nightmare. There was hardship after hardship. It truly was an exhausting, draining week. I for some reason held this belief that because I felt prepared and was all "prayed up" for the trip, that things were going to run smoothly and that the trip was going to just be amazing. I could not be more wrong. Why do we as American believers think that we are extra special? We dealt with some really hard situations and circumstances and yet God is still sovereign and in control. I had to keep reminding myself that.

Then I sat down to read this passage and I was brought to tears. Paul, one of the most "successful" missionaries in the New Testament, face hardships! As I read that list (verses 3-10), I kept thinking, "yep, I've dealt with that recently." Wow. I am not alone! Even Paul who walked closely with God had hard times. He was out doing God's work, and yet he faced difficult circumstances. I was so encouraged by reading this. We serve a crucified Savior. He had a really tough time in ministry and yet we believe that following him is going to be easy. Well, it isn't always. However, God is still in control of your life and he is working it out ALL for good! I am so thankful that I am not the one who is in control. I am so thankful that even in hard circumstances, God is still at work. And even though I am exhausted, God never stops working in the lives of his people. Praise God that we are allowed to even be a part of that, whether easy or hard! He only asks for our obedience.