Romans 5:1-10 KJV 1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: 2 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 3 And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; 4 And patience, experience; and experience, hope: 5 And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us. 6 For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. 8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. 10 For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.

Over the years the one thing I do know is that Christ has substain me through all the trials of this life. No matter how hard the journey was or wasn't mattered little the one that saw me through with Christ. Yes even when there were times, when I failed my Lord, He never left me. One learns patience in trials. Yet what one learns the most is that worrying helps little, and the carefree of faith often allows a person the ability to press on. In my youth I think of a time when I should of been more worried about my situation in life then I was. I had the stiff upper lip as they call it. I kept putting one foot forwar and not worrying about what was ahead. It often easier said then done when you have more to care about in your life then yourself. The concern one might have during a time of that carefree life might not be forgotten, but the inability to fix a thing never seem possible during that time. In fact one might say the struggle for survival was in the fore front. I get on a treadmill and walk up the hill only to realize I not getting anywhere once again. It not a lack of trying it a lack of ability. Sometimes during struggles one has to stop and let God have his way. It easy to want to fight the struggle, then to let go and allow God to have controls. Often the thing one is searching for is more about one's own ability then faith. The world says look at yourself what can you accomplish. God says what can I accomplish through your life. The power within one's own self or the power of God. Which is greater the power of God enabling is greater. God seen our weakness of sin, long before we seen our own filth of sin. God seen long before the need of saving mankind, long before the struggle to fight the elements of this world. Why would God put man in a place the struggles of this world was bigger then the person. God sees the tribulations coming and that have come. He knew the troubles ahead before they come. Cain was warned about sin before it occurred. Yet man can not stop sinning nor fighting through the struggles of our world. With God all things are possible. God sent His Son to die for you and me, though we did not deserve it. Our disobedience did not enable the ability to deserve salvation. Salvation is not deserved it is given. The power to over come life struggles are not deserved, but it given by the power of the Holy Spirit. One has to get to that place of realization they can not face the struggles of this world alone without God. God is not always credit about providing strength to the repented man but He does. It takes time to understand who helped you through the struggle. Who enables to have the patience and endurance to keep standing when one wants to sit down and not fight. The struggle in life can be painful and it can also help us to enable someone else to keep pressing on. The first struggle is seeing our own self rightness. The thinking we are good enough. I once slept on a bed that was beautifully made. The covers of lace and canopy on top. The bed reminded me what I could of had if I followed a different path in life. It reminded me of the hope of better tomorrow. It reminded me of how much I had changed in my life. How somethings mattered not. It was the simplicity of the bed and the beauty of the cover that capture the eye of yesteryear. It did not tell me what I needed, it only told of my desire of finer things in life. It told me that the hardship I was facing had no finery. It also told me I needed to do something to change that if I could. I needed to care about those things that made life a little brighter, some would say that womenly instinct kicked in. The nurturing wife syndrome. Perhaps it had. God seen our hardships, but he also knew what heaven looked like and he placed Adam and Eve in the world we live in today. He knew what laid ahead over ten thousand years before our Lord even came. He knew when man would see the need of salvation. He knew when the heart would begin to cry. He knew when we would begin to desire finery. Yet it would be old rugged cross that would bury our burdens, and hold all our worries if we would lay them down. Job struggled with tribulation, with faith. Israel traveled in the wilderness struggling to just have faith. Jacob had no clue when he left home if he could even trust God for the journey to return him one day to the place of his dream. Paul did not know if when he enter a city if they would embrace him, beat him, stone him, or enable him to press on. All Paul knew to do was trust Jesus and put one foot in front of the other in the direction of the mission field of faith. Back to the cross. God seen the need and the struggles to come long before we asked him for help. The sacrifices could not save by themselves it took God's forgiveness to enable salvation. The hope of paradise/heaven being seen afar off by man, yet God provision first through sacrifice of sheep on the altar to the sacrifice of Christ. God knew the world would cast Jesus out, choosing the finery of life over the cross. Something happened third day after Christ death on the cross. Something that never happened to a lamb. He rose up out of the tomb and walk the earth. He walked in the elements of this world with victory. The victory Christ had through the cross, would give him the finer he was accustom to once more. His ability to forgive would give mankind the finery one day. Christ left his finery at home, He came without the finery of heaven, but lived in the finery of his livilihood. Christ began to provide the finery of heaven to the people through healing, miracles, signs and wonders as well has story telling of the hope of heaven and parables. God wants to give you taste of the finery in this world, so you know heaven is much better and sweeter. He wants to provide in the journey so you know what feasting in heaven will be like. You will know the taste of perfection with only perfection God brings through Christ into your life when you receive him as Lord and Savior. You will know the joy that will continue into heaven one day upon faith in Him. Know God knows your struggle and will enable you to win. Remember the victory not ours but Christ. The one that paid the price for our sin and for the struggles and heart aches we experience along the road in life. He paid the price for our burdens. Dear Heavenly Father, remind us of the promise of the finery to come with the hope of faith being instilled in our hearts today by the cross of Christ. In Jesus precious name, Amen. Continual Scripture Study for Devotion: 2Corinthians 1:3-7 KJV 3 Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; 4 Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God. 5 For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ. 6 And whether we be afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation, which is effectual in the enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer: or whether we be comforted, it is for your consolation and salvation. 7 And our hope of you is stedfast, knowing, that as ye are partakers of the sufferings, so shall ye be also of the consolation. http://www.turtle30cshell.com