Be An OVERCOMER

Be An Overcomer!
There are few guarantees in this life, but one of them we can all expect is trouble. It may creep up on us slowly, or blindside us when we least expect it. Either way, when it reaches us, it causes fear, pain, and heartache. We sometimes have to make hard decisions, often without all the answers to our questions.
Discouragement and fear of the unknown knocks on our doors, wanting to come in and stay awhile, but we must never let them in! Jesus said in John 16:33, “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
Although trouble and disappointment can be expected in this world, discouragement is a choice. Whatever the hardship, there is always one overarching choice we all must make, to move toward God or away from Him. There is no standing still. There is no neutral option. Adversity and troubles will often cause our path to split before us and we will either walk with our Lord Jesus or turn down a lonely road without Him.
Walking with the Lord doesn’t always look pretty either. At times, it may look like temporarily unleashing our anger and frustration on Him. At times we may cry out, beg, barter in desperation or be left with no words at all. But we must always walk with Him! We must acknowledge that the Lord gives and takes away. That He alone is still Lord above all and if anyone can redeem us or our situation, it is He alone!
Always remember that we have a loving God! Turning away from Him in times of trouble is to deny Him what is rightfully His, which only adds to our hardship when we choose to walk alone without hope. Walk with Jesus, the one who has overcome the world. He alone enables us to overcome in this life! Only He can make something good from our troubles, and He alone promises to be with us to the end of the ages.
Grace and peace always,
Fr. Greg 

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