For the Tough Days When God Gave You More Than You Could Handle.

There have been too many times I've heard "God doesn't give you more than you can handle." I bet many of you can attest that God has given you more than you can handle, I know He's challenged me. The truth is He does give us too much at times, and while alone it is too much He can give us immeasurable strength to help us in any situation. It's trust in that that keeps us moving on the days when it feels like an uphill battle in the pouring rain through the mud.

and friends... there are days where thats me and let me tell you...
I don't like mud.

It's great to know we aren't alone friends isn't it? You ever felt like that? stuck in the mud?

I've been reading about Anthony of Egypt, who thankfully is recognized by pretty much everyone for his faith.  He wanted to purge himself of everything not of God so he went into the desert and hid in caves and tombs. What we know about him is that demons attacked him physically and spiritually.
St. Athanasius who lived around the same time chronicled his life, in a work that is respected by all christians and we see a beautiful answer from God as Anthony cried out in challenges:

Where were you God?’ Antony asked, ‘Why
didn’t you ease my temptations and pains?’
And a voice came to him: ‘Antony, I was
here, but I waited to see you fight.’”
-St. Athanasius

From the picture below depicted by Michaelangelo St. Antony sure was fighting.

Michaelangel's first painting

The Torment of St. Antony

image link

Friends. There are times where I feel I'm in the desert, in the mud, in the rain, in whatever element we wanna call it, and while at times our God asks me to be still while He fights for me, at other times our  Lord pushes me and wants to see me night like He pushed Antony.

Friends that fight is almost always spiritual and almost always internal for me.  While there have been times I've endured physical issues, the challenge to be faithful and self controlled in a storm is great. It's in the moment's that challenges arise that I must control my heart, my mind and my tongue.

Please know that whether He is fighting for you, or watching you fight He is always there. He will never leave you or forsake you and He has the perfect plan. While I can't always see the plan, and my the directions seem fuzzy, I know taking a step toward God is always leading me to the right path.

So when the days are hard and work challenges you, health challenges you, relationships challenge you, or whatever the challenge is, know that He will give you the strength, and you will overcome. It might not be graceful and you might end up covered in dirt, He is with you.
Friends I'm praying for you. If I can be praying for you specifically let me know.
I'm in a season where He's given me way more than I can handle but I know it's not too much for Him. In this season I feel He's called me to fight so I'm not giving up, no matter how much mud.
<3
Anita