From the archives of encouragement

by MW Cook

I was digging through some old journals the other days and I found this entry. I remember it encouraged me when I wrote it and it certainly encouraged me when I read it again. Maybe it’ll have the same effect on you. Bear in mind it’s rather old.

I came here to sit and figure out how to deal with the [non-specific stresses of the day]. I think I’ve coming to the conclusion that I just can’t get rid of it. [The issue]’s not leaving and as long as it’s here I will have conflicts. Stress will come. I can’t look for a way out anymore, I just need a plan of action to make it bearable. I need to make it so [these problems] don’t suck the life out of me anymore…
I suppose holding fast to the word of life would do that for me! It would be so nice to reach the day of Christ and be proud that I did not run in vain or labour in vain, even if I am to be poured out, stressed out and burned out I should be glad, yes?
WHY?
Because all things are loss next to you.
All things are worthless from the right point of view.
All things are loss compared to you.
I only want one master, not two.

[Half a day later]

Here it is! 2 Corinthians 6:4-10
“But as servants of God we commend ourselves in everyway: by great endurance, in afflictions, hardships, calamities, beatings, imprisonments, riots, labors, sleepless nights, hunger; by purity, knowledge, patience, kindness, the Holy Spirit, genuine love; by truthful speech, and the power of God; with the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and for the left; through honor and dishonor, through slander and praise. We are treated as imposters, and yet are true; as unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and behold, we live; as punished, and yet not killed; as sorrowful yet always rejoicing; as poor yet making many rich; as having nothing, yet possessing everything.”

What do we fight with? We fight with: Great endurance, purity, knowledge, patience, kindness, the Holy Spirit, genuine love, truthful speech and the power of God.

And remember, you have nothing, but you own everything.

Cook out.