There is beauty to be found in any circumstance if we choose to look for it. Sometimes we can be so immersed in sorrow, heartache, loss and pain that we are blind to the gifts in front of us. Other times we are so angry that we reject the promises we could be embracing from God in that moment. There is something extraordinary that occurs when we choose Jesus over all others no matter our suffering.

I was reflecting on the past year and was reminded of all the times God held me close. He kept reminding me that the heavy hits only come to those who are worth the prize. And I was a prize He fought, died, and rose to life for! HIS PRIZE! 

All the hits, all the targeting you may feel you have received, point to a truth written in the Bible and lived through flesh and blood: the God-Man. The empty tomb and everything since then all point to the fact that you are loved dearly. You are wanted. You are the prize. The enemy knows your value, too, and it is why your identity and heart are attacked so severely.

When you choose obedience at any cost the devil hates that. In some sense, I would say that the hatred intensifies, and it can feel endless. I would also say that Love intensifies, and so does joy. Life is hard. None of us can avoid suffering.

My question is, what “hard” will you choose? 

You are worth the prize. Don’t waste what Jesus did. His way, although a sacrifice and very difficult, is the “hard” worth choosing. He is worth it all. Will you show Him? He is asking for your heart. He is inviting you to a life where to “give up your life” is to gain it. His ways, His thoughts are not like our own.

True joy, and the love we yearn for comes with the hard, holy work of laying down our life and allowing Christ to be glorified. Our flesh is set to rot and decay, but we often have deceived ourselves into thinking that we can feed both flesh and spirit while still showing Him that He too, is indeed worth the prize.

You are worth the prize!

Is He worth the prize too?

Everything you “lose”, Love returns in better and different ways. His ways are so beautiful it is difficult for us to comprehend. 

He redeems all things. His redemption looks different than what we can ever come up with on our own.

A divine invitation is waiting for you. What “hard” will you choose? Will you join the Healer?

You are the prize worth fighting for!

And so is He.

Lyric from “Revival’s in the Air” Bethel Music