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EN(dur)ANCE by Robin Gudal

“Only one life ‘twill soon be past, only what is done for Christ will last.” — C.T. Studd

This plaque hangs in our bedroom and each night as I go to bed and each morning as I awake to face the day, I see it. It hung in the home of a dear friend of Greggy’s family, and it is a steady truth of what’s important in this life. This is also a timely reminder for the forthcoming Resurrection Sunday.

We all have felt weakness, discouragement and struggle in this life.

In the Easter Devotion “40 Days of Decrease” by Alicia Britt Chole, she challenges us to boldly embrace holy weakness:

“There, we find Jesus… It takes a great deal of strength to choose weakness.” She goes on to say, “Helplessness exposes the content of my heart” and “Deserts unclutter the soul.”

“In that old rugged cross, stained with blood so divine, a wondrous beauty I see. For ‘twas on that old cross Jesus suffered and died to pardon and sanctify me.” — “The Old Rugged Cross” by George Bennard

“The cross of Christ is an intersection, it is the hinge; the choice to either reject his invitation or to surrender to his provision. Every decision or life direction you and I feel on this journey is shaped by how the cross shapes us.” — “Pilgrim” by Ruth Chou Simons

As I was reflecting on these thoughts, I thought of these lyrics:

“Yes Lord, yes Lord, yes, yes Lord. Yes Lord, yes Lord, yes, yes Lord, Amen. I’m trading my sorrows, I’m trading my shame. I’m trading my sickness; I’m trading my pain…

I’m pressed but not crushed, persecuted not abandoned, struck down but not destroyed… Though the sorrow may last for the night, his joy comes with the morning.”— “Trading my Sorrows (Yes Lord) by Darrell Evans

The “Trading my Sorrows” song is for everyone who has had a bad day, a bad week or even a bad month because it celebrates laying those burdens down before the Lord and trading them for the joy he has to offer. The lyrics resounded in my heart.

Will you also allow them to be your heart’s response this Resurrection season?

Robin (Beckman) Gudal is intentional in life, a wife, momma, nana, friend and a flawed and imperfect follower of Jesus.