BE OF GOOD CHEER; I HAVE OVERCOME THE WORLD
In this life, there are many obstacles that confront us on a regular basis. Some are simply small irritants that we all must deal with like the kids spilling chocolate milk on the new carpet, or getting a flat tire on the way to work. Others seem larger than life like losing a loved one, or being fired from a job. Others still test the limits of our faith like being wrongfully accused, being persecuted for our faith, or being sorely tempted to sin. All of these things may seem like detours on the path of life, but in truth they are the very things that can help us to live a more abundant life - one that is lived through the grace of God and not by our own feeble attempts to overcome. The Apostle Paul went so far as to say, "I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong." (2 Corinthians 12:10 NIV) Delighting in our hardships may seem like a stretch for most folks, but the key is trusting