James 1:2-4 (MSG)

Consider it a sheer gift, friends, when tests and challenges come at you from all sides. You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colors. So don’t try to get out of anything prematurely. Let it do its work so you become mature and well-developed, not deficient in any way.

This past February my mother died. Me being her only child was responsible for her arrangements and after care needs. One of the tasks that was associated with this was writing her obituary. Having never done this, I decided to look at others so that I could get an idea of what to write. As I read templates and other obituaries I had from loved ones that had transitioned, a phrase I noticed used was “They were survived by.” I thought to myself, what an interesting way to describe your remaining loved ones.

When I looked up the definition of survived, I learned that it is the past tense of survive, meaning to continue to live or exist despite danger or hardship; to remain alive after the death of a person. It’s funny how we use phrases or words not knowing the impact that they have upon our lives. My choice to use this phrase was a declaration saying, “I will continue to live”. However, at the time I didn’t feel like living.

As I sat at my mother’s celebration of life, I wanted to go with her. I wanted to stay close to her even if it meant being in death with her. My emotions did not match my declaration, because her death took a big part of me with her. So, I found myself asking the question, how can I continue to go on without her. Prior to my mother’s death, I lost my spiritual mother, co-pastor, and mentor. The pain I felt was immeasurable. What have I survived when I am constantly experiencing loss?

I was fixated on where I was, how I felt, and what I wanted. Not remembering that all things still work for my good. Psalms 44:22(B) reminds us that we are counted as sheep for the slaughter. Every morning we rise, the enemy has a plan in play to kill, steal, and destroy us. However, we are also tried, not as punishment but for our pruning.

Anyone who meets a testing challenge head-on and manages to stick it out is mighty fortunate. For such a person loyally in love with God, the reward is life and more life (James 1:12, MSG). Although it is painful, it is necessary.

The way I responded was going to prune my faith, reveal my weakness, and strengthen my relationship with Christ. I know that when we are faced with challenges whether it is death, sickness, failure, maybe even addictions we never view it as something to strengthen us. However, let me submit this to you, each day you conquer what was meant to take you down or even out, you gained experience. Being a survivor is a gift. You now have experience on how to win and time to tell your story.

As you tell your experience or testimony, you continue to overcome what was meant to destroy you while simultaneously encouraging your sisters and brothers. So even though your confession may not always match your feeling or reality, know that YOU HAVE SURVIVED…..

Prayer:

Father, I pray that my sisters will continue to walk in confidence knowing that whatever they may be facing is for their making. You have already caused us triumph over the enemy so Father we decree and declare that we are Overcomers and we will encourage our sisters along the way. Father, and anything that seems too hard for us we will take comfort in knowing that we can do all things through you (Christ) who strengthens us. We come against the plan of the enemy even now and we speak life into what seems to be dead situations. We will continue to live and have life more abundantly. We thank You God for what You have done in us and we believe it to be so in Jesus name. Declare that You Survived…