“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come on you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
Acts 1:8 CSB
I used to desire a life with no stress. I like having a plan and not needing to worry, but that’s not the case. We all know this, no matter how much we might try to get things set perfectly, life will always shift and change. You’ll experience great things and difficult things, and that’s the beauty of life. Dear Danielle and I joke that the theme of our entire marriage has been “pivot,” because we have found ourselves in an ongoing life cycle of change and shifting the directions we thought we would go. I’ll be honest, there have been times in these changes and shifts that life has thrown at us, where I wasn’t sure I could do it. That the difficult thing in front of us was too much, and yet, time and time again, we have been able to trust God and do the difficult thing.
As much as I would love a life where I never had to face something hard, that isn’t what it will be. It’s also important to understand that our lives are more than just making it through each day, we are called to be a light and live it out. I am so thankful for Jesus’ encouragement, that He will provide us with the powerful Spirit in order to be a light in all the world and accomplish what is in front of us.
Life will have its challenges, but remember, you can do difficult things.
Focus is important when it comes to facing difficult things. We need to know that hard things will come up, but we cannot let that hold power over us. Meaning, if a situation is bad, acknowledge that, but don’t dwell in it. Every month in my Field Notes pocketbook, I journal out a recap of what good things happened and memories were made and then what I am currently enjoying. I do this to think about the blessings I have, regardless of the hard things that may have come up, I am choosing to focus on what God has provided me and what is bringing me joy.
Your focus will determine your direction.
People who ride bikes and motorcycles will tell you that what you focus on will end up steering you in that direction. So, in life, acknowledge the difficult mountain in front of you, but focus on what God might be doing in the midst of it. What are you learning through this? How can you change as a result of the outcome? How can you avoid treating others the way you have been treated?
These are important to ask because we need to grow into a new identity that is not rooted in the difficult things in your life.
This month is all about mini lessons from spooky things I enjoy, and I am thinking about the movie, “Gremlins.” It’s a cult classic where the main character doesn’t follow the rules and ends up creating a disaster of gremlins. He has to take charge and fix the issue even when it seems like too much. I love that idea when looking at our own lives, sometimes we make mistakes or things happen to us, but we can do it. The Holy Spirit has been given to you as you follow Christ, and He empowers you to make the right choice and fix your mistakes.
You can do difficult things because of the Holy Spirit empowering you.
With this power, it isn’t all about you, it’s about having an inward change to make an outward impact. Following Jesus means living a life that points others toward Jesus through your actions and love.
The ministry of Jesus was marked by Him calling us to follow and then live a life on mission. So, know that you can do difficult things and you can be an encouragement for those facing difficult things.
It’s been a season for me where as a family, we’re trying to discern what’s next. In the midst of that unknown, we continue to focus our minds on the blessings in front of us that God has given us. That focus is what bring me peace, both personally and in the hurting world I see around me.
This focus also creates in me a desire to be a light in my home and in the world around me. Why? Because I have the Holy Spirit alive and at work within me. Why would I ever keep that to myself? I want to be a light of joy and love to those around me facing difficult things. I want to be a reminder that you can do difficult things, because I have overcome difficult things too.
Choose to be a light, because you can do difficult things because of the loving savior who made a way in the wilderness for you.
-Your pastor and friend, Joshua.
About the Author: Joshua Thomas is a husband, father, and pastor doing what he can to love others the way Jesus did. You can find him reading a good book, sipping warm tea, taking pictures, or dreaming. He may not have it all figured out, but the journey is the best part. You can find him on the only social media he uses, Bluesky and Instagram
Joshua Writes 