Todays guest post comes from our friend, Molly Spence. I hope it is an encouraging reminder of what we are to remember. ❤️

– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

Our society has never been perfect, yet I remain stunned by the staggering amount of ugliness that I have recently witnessed on social media. I am heartbroken over the state of our world. I know many are experiencing those same emotions.

The presence of spiritual warfare surrounds us every day as believers—it’s incredibly easy for our mind’s eye to glance everywhere and to search for all of the right things in all of the wrong places.

I want to share three prominent truths that have carried me through the seasons of my life:

1) The world’s opinion of you will never be more valuable than what the Lord knows about you.

2) The presence of the Lord is the ultimate source of refuge in the midst of trouble.

3) Nothing is ever impossible with God, but nothing will ever be possible without Him.

I hope and pray that my words will be that much-needed source of strength and encouragement for whoever may find themselves in a similar space.

While the presence of social media contains plenty of benefits, its disadvantages are beginning to outweigh them. The dependence upon the approval and acceptance of followers or subscribers has truly evolved into another epidemic that stands all on its own. It’s never the best decision to allow the number of followers on your Instagram or the brand of your clothing to be the defining factor of your worth.

The world’s opinion of you will never be more valuable than what the Lord knows about you.

Maybe you’re feeling as if you’re never enough for this world. Please know that you will always be enough for Him. The Lord knows your heart intricately and loves you beyond comprehension.

We are never deserving of such compassion, yet Jesus never fails to offer it to us each day. It’s often wise to step away from the world and reevaluate the ‘why’ behind what you are doing—never allow the pressure of a social media presence to dim your light for Jesus. 

As Colossians 3:23-24 tells us, “And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ.”

Casting one glance into the world we are living in today paints quite a discouraging portrait: so much unforeseen tragedy has come upon countless families and the looming presence of ever-growing darkness. It can all be more than overwhelming.

You may be traveling through unfamiliar territory that continually leaves the mind desiring to hide away from reality. The Bible encourages us to not only be well aware and mindful of our all that surrounds us, but to also hold onto your faith in the midst of tribulation. Whether you’re experiencing trials in your personal life or dealing with a case of discouragement over the uncertainty of our world, always remember that nothing you will ever face will ever be too much for God to handle and He will stay with you through each phase of the journey. 

We read in Joshua 1:9, “Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.”

It al states in Isaiah 43:2, “When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.”

We must also remember that nothing is ever impossible with Jesus and nothing will ever be possible without Him.

I first became familiar with the phrase  “tough times never last, but tough people always do’ in middle school. Without Christ, I would not have one ounce of strength within me.

Human nature points us all to an incessant quest for independence: the world promotes and encourages the sole reliance on self-made achievements in the society we are living in… but the truth is nothing is ever impossible with Jesus. Yet nothing will ever be made possible without Him for He is the ultimate provider of strength. 

I hope and pray that my words will serve as an encouragement to anyone who may be facing tough times for whatever reason. So much about the world we live in continues to change and the unfamiliar is never easy to navigate through.

None of us would have the strength to walk through life without Jesus; our days were never meant to be lived without Him. He loves you more than you’ll ever know.

It’s too easy to find ourselves looking everywhere else for an answer when the Lord simply desires to help us in the way that only He can. I know that so many are walking through some awful moments lately. While it’s true that tough times never last, the love of Christ is eternal. Hold onto your faith and never give up on trusting in Jesus. He will never fail to carry you through and there’s no greater friendship than His.

As Philippians 4:13 tells us, “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.”