Advent Reflection | Thursday, December 17

Today’s A Weary World Rejoices story comes from Robin Kerl:

I would like to start out my devotional with this Bible verse from 2nd Corinthians 4:8-12. It reads “we are hard pressed on every side but not crushed, perplexed but not in despair, persecuted, but not abandoned, stuck down, but not destroyed.” 

There are times in our life when we must keep pressing forward in life even though we are in a trial that seems to us that in the natural looks to be impossible. Let me tell you all a little bit about my story and then you will see that I have actually lived what I am telling you all to do.  

Back in 1999 my fiancé and I had just finished work, we both worked at Walmart as department managers. My fiancé and I decided to do a little shopping together after work. After doing so we walked out to his car and as we were about to get into my fiancé’s car we  were blindsided by my ex-boyfriend who shot and murdered my fiancé and then shot me before he turned the gun on himself.  

To this very day I am left with hardship and burdens most people can’t even imagine, but in the midst of dealing with these burdens I still look for and find the positive things in a very awful situation. 

To this day I deal with the effects of this event. I don’t have the best balance when I move, but I am aware that I am VERY fortunate to even be able to walk at all. I wear a hearing aid in one ear because my left ear was shot off, but the doctors repaired it with plastic surgery. There are so many bad things that have happened as a result of that awful day but there are so many positive things that I am grateful for. 

I guess for me that saying is true–when it is says every cloud has a silver lining. I have, through the help of others, been able to maintain a positive attitude in the midst of this and so I want to encourage you also. Stay strong and keep trusting in God for your miracle that may be right around the corner.

The most powerful work is believing that God is at work in our life. Don’t put a limit on what you can overcome and by all means don’t put any limits on what God can do in your life either.     

2nd Corinthians 4:8-12 

We are hard pressed on every side but not crushed, perplexed but not in despair, persecuted, but not abandoned, stuck down, but not destroyed.  

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