The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly. - John 10:10

I started this devotional out by looking up the term, “done in”. What I found had me both nodding in agreement, and shaking my head as I realized what God wanted me to see.

Here is the Merriam-Webster Dictionary definition of “done in”:
to bring about the defeat or destruction of ;
annihilate,cream,decimate,demolish,desolate,destroy,devastate,extinguish,nuke,pull down,pulverize,raze,rub out,ruin,shatter,smash,tear down,total,vaporize,waste,wrack,wreck

Do I feel this way. A resounding, “Yes!”

But is this the description of a child of God? In No Way.

we are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not despairing; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying about in the body the dying of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body. - 2 Corinthians 4:8-10

The enemy's been getting in some sucker punches this year. He's got my number and he's calling constantly. Calling me to feel crushed, despairing, even forsaken.

As if.

Oh we're in good company, Dear Ones. Christ felt forsaken, as well.

About the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?” that is, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” - Matthew 27:46

Then He proved He was anything but destroyed by rising from the dead.

Give that a moment to sink in.

And He made me this promise. You, too.

Make sure that your character is free from the love of money, being content with what you have; for He Himself has said, “I will never desert you, nor will I ever forsake you,” so that we confidently say,

“The Lord is my helper, I will not be afraid.
What will man do to me?” - Hebrews 13:5-6

See, it feels true that I am done in. Completely.

Seriously, if someone asks me to blink, I will burst into tears. I'm that tired.

But I can't trust my feelings.

I can trust God. And He says that because the death of Jesus is carried around in my Body, the life, the amazing, perfect, so-beautiful-it-hurts life of Jesus can be manifested there! In my body... this body that is broken and battered and completely undone... in this body can be manifested the life of Christ.

How?

I don't have a clue. I'm still just as tired and bruised and helpless as you are. And maybe that's the best starting point.

And He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.” Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ’s sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong. - 2 Corinthians 12:9-10

His faithfulness depends not a whit on my understanding.

Thank God.

Father, thank You for showing me over and over and over again how Your Word is true. Thank You for making wise the simple. Please continue working all things to my good, despite myself, because oh how I love you. In Jesus' Name, Amen...

The post Are You Done In? appeared first on Renewed Daily.written by Shelly Hendricks