FOUR SURVIVAL WORDS
By: Pastor Brian Huff
We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed…
2 Corinthians 4:8-9 KJV
A couple months ago, a hashtag with a simple question was trending on twitter: #howIsurvivein4words This trend encouraged people to share how they survive each day by using just four words. I decided to write four words that tell of my own survival:
1. God: It starts and ends here. He is Alpha and Omega; beginning and the end, first and the last.
2. Desperation: Settled people don’t walk on water. Comfortable people don’t defeat giants. Careful people don’t walk out of a den of lions. Those tasks are for the desperate! Those battles are for the hungry. Those experiences are for those who realize, “I don’t need caution, I need Jesus”.
3. Conscience: Conscience is God-given. Either we protect it or we neglect it. With this inner voice of reason, we become better people, and without it we become offensive people. I pray daily that God will increase my sensitivity to His direction.
4. Live: I could choose any other word, but honestly, we forget this one in the church. We forget to have experiences, see the beauty of the earth, laugh, and not be too serious. We sometimes forget to thrive, be fruitful, and multiply. Live the life God birthed you to live; trying to be anything else isn’t truly living. Ignore hate, embrace life.
You’re not called to just survive. You’re not called to struggle through life. You are called to be POWERFUL. When you feel like life is overwhelming, REMEMBER: You’re not distressed, not in despair, you’re not forsaken, and you’re not destroyed.
We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed…
2 Corinthians 4:8-9 KJV
A couple months ago, a hashtag with a simple question was trending on twitter: #howIsurvivein4words This trend encouraged people to share how they survive each day by using just four words. I decided to write four words that tell of my own survival:
1. God: It starts and ends here. He is Alpha and Omega; beginning and the end, first and the last.
2. Desperation: Settled people don’t walk on water. Comfortable people don’t defeat giants. Careful people don’t walk out of a den of lions. Those tasks are for the desperate! Those battles are for the hungry. Those experiences are for those who realize, “I don’t need caution, I need Jesus”.
3. Conscience: Conscience is God-given. Either we protect it or we neglect it. With this inner voice of reason, we become better people, and without it we become offensive people. I pray daily that God will increase my sensitivity to His direction.
4. Live: I could choose any other word, but honestly, we forget this one in the church. We forget to have experiences, see the beauty of the earth, laugh, and not be too serious. We sometimes forget to thrive, be fruitful, and multiply. Live the life God birthed you to live; trying to be anything else isn’t truly living. Ignore hate, embrace life.
You’re not called to just survive. You’re not called to struggle through life. You are called to be POWERFUL. When you feel like life is overwhelming, REMEMBER: You’re not distressed, not in despair, you’re not forsaken, and you’re not destroyed.