Since becoming a Christian it seems as though my life has been filled with constant “spiritual battles” causing me to question at times as to why I do what I do. Lately it has been so intense that there have been many times when I have whispered under my breath, ”I quit.” During these times of precariousness, I pray fervently for God to give me discernment on how to live the rest the life He has given me and desperately asking for divine assistance to stay alert and motivated so that “the enemy” doesn’t have the opportunity to steal my joy, kill my desires to serve God, or destroy me. I “fight” for breakthroughs in my ministry life consistently and pray for others I know who struggle like I do as well. The enemy knows my weaknesses and I believe that he uses my past to affect my present in an attempt to inhibit my work in the future for the kingdom. To be perfectly clear, I try to surrender “everything” in my life to God and I do not live in fear of the world, the enemy, or even death. I have been told that the reason, the route cause of my emotional and mental issues is that I have a dysfunctional connection with God, mainly through a misunderstanding of His word. I strongly disagree. As I have studied the scriptures it has become clear that God has used a variety of people who struggled with many of the things that I do throughout history for His purpose. I reflect on what Elijah did as he battled with Ahab and Jezebel. Elijah was weary, afraid, felt alone, and also battled depression, many of the same feelings and emotions I am struggling with today. I am encouraged by what is written about Elijah in *1 Kings 19:4 But he himself traveled a day’s journey into the wilderness, and he came and sat down under a juniper tree and asked [God] that he might die. He said, “It is enough; now, O Lord, take my life, for I am no better than my fathers.” 5 He lay down and slept under the juniper tree, and behold, an angel touched him and said to him, “Get up and eat.”* The most impactful part of this interaction for me is that God didn’t send an angel to preach to Elijah, tell him he needed to pray more, or condemn him for feeling the way that he did. God sent an angel to comfort him while he rested and encouraged him to continue on in what God had called him to do. I know what it is like to feel abandoned and discouraged by those that I expected to be there for me in my time of distress. My encouragement to all who hear these words, next time you feel the need to say something to someone struggling to make it through the day, try to comfort and encourage them to continue to the end, to Get Up and endure, it can be more powerful than anything else you could ever do for them. Also, remind them that Jesus loves them and so do you! In Christ Love, douglas. HE>i. pastord.blog

To any who are interested, please feel free to reach out to me with prayer requests, questions, encouragement, or for information on how to come alongside me with financial support for the ministry activities that God has entrusted to me at pastord.blog@gmail.com