This Isn't the End

Spiritual Life

Carbonatix Pre-Player Loader

Audio By Carbonatix

By Amber Ginter, Crosswalk.com
“I'm so blessed, I'm so blessed
Got this heartbeat in my chest
No, it doesn't matter about the rest
If I got You Lord, I'm so blessed
(Hey) I'm so blessed, I'm so blessed
Got this heartbeat in my chest
No, it doesn't matter about the rest (Let's go)
If I got You Lord, I'm so blessed”
-CAIN, Best Days Remix

"Praise the Lord, my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name. Praise the Lord, my soul, and forget not all his benefits…” Psalm 103:1-2 (NIV)

The temperature outside my window soars past 105, but I don’t mind. The heat has never bothered me, but the cold is another story. And yet, something within me shudders. This hasn’t been an ordinary week.

I don’t know if I’m getting to that age, or maybe I’m just becoming more aware of my surroundings, but this life seems so unfair. Cut short for many. Temporary and fleeting at best. Here one moment and gone the next. Bad things happen to good people, and though I still know and believe God is good, it’s hard to process.

On Facebook, pregnancy announcements, marriages, and engagements fill half my feed. The other contains deaths, tragedies, natural disasters, and disappearances. I suppose life has always been this way. When it hits closer to home, however, it stops us in our tracks. We’re left questioning and confused, heartbroken and pleading. A little voice in the back of our minds wonders if we’ll be next.

A close friend was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer this week. Another has been suffering from brain bleeds and strokes. One from a few years back just found a growing cyst in her stomach. The list seems exhaustive. 

Back home, my dad is still battling chronic pain. Pain he’s felt every day with little relief for the last 15 years. My grandma is still grieving the loss of her husband, though it’s been only a few months. I think we’re all still grieving his presence.

The birthday of the half-brother I lost to an overdose reminds me that the wound is still healing. Another life taken too soon.

In my house, I’m still learning to manage endometriosis, mold, and IBS, on top of daily anxiety and depression. I’m wrestling with questions about my marriage and career. I find myself confused most days.

When Life Feels Too Heavy

But at the end of this hard and overwhelming week, I’ve found myself humming the tune to “Best Days," by CAIN. Not because life has been easy, but because it hasn’t. In these frail and fragile moments, I’ve become aware that life is such a gift. In every moment, especially the mundane, questioning, anxious, depressed, sad, and even unfair, if I have a heartbeat in my chest, I am blessed. I am blessed to live another day. To try again. To move. To breathe. To start all over again.

Friends, I am all for validating the circumstances we’re experiencing and the emotions that overwhelm our souls. I’m a firm believer that David, the author of many Psalms, felt this way, too. He told God everything he felt and was going through. But he also chose to praise God and declare praise, even when it was hard.

David’s son, King Solomon, also understood this well. Perhaps he had even deeper insight into life’s brevity when he wrote Ecclesiastes: life is meaningless and everything in it (Ecclesiastes 1:18). Solomon didn’t mean life wasn’t worth living, but he said it as a reminder: life here on earth is temporary, but life in heaven will be eternal. The more we know, the more sorrow we will recognize. 

Our circumstances don't always change. We very well may still experience pain, heartbreak, and things we don't understand. Life always seems to be too short and too long simultaneously. Yet, if God is with us, if He is truly with us, then we need not be afraid. Nothing can steal His promises from us. Not hard days. Not cancer diagnoses. Not illness, famine, natural disasters, or diseases. Not things we understand, or those we don't. Because for those who believe, we know that this is not the end. 

And that changes everything.

Praising in the Pain

It doesn't mean I have this life all figured out or answers to the most troubling questions. It also doesn't mean I ignore what's going on around me, stating Christian cliches to get me through. But it does mean I don't carry these burdens alone. It means I have Someone on my side who knows better than I do. It means that even when everyone else fades away, He's still with and within me, guiding me gently along the way. His presence is enough for me because I know His promises, not just eternal life, but a day with no more weeping or fears. 

"So I keep praising in the pain.
I keep finding that my knees hit the floor.
I keep laying it down.
I keep writing.
I proceed with sharing.
I let the tears flow.
Remembering that God is still God.
God is still good."
-Chandler Moore, Joy

Being blessed doesn’t mean everything is perfect. Rarely is life all sunshine and rainbows. But even in the chaos, I have Christ. Even in the pain and confusion, His presence reminds me of His promise. I have a heartbeat in my chest and the Spirit of God within me. I have breath for today and hope for tomorrow. 

Friend, whatever this week has in store for you—bliss or heartbreak, everything you ever wanted or everything you never expected—can I remind you of this?

Your pain matters. It deserves recognition and validation. Take time to sit, mourn, and reflect. But don't stay in that place. If you’ve got God, you’re still blessed.

It's not because you'll never face hard things, but because God is faithful. Not because everything is good, but because He can bring goodness out of anything. Not because this is the end, but because the best is yet to come. 

Practical Action: Living "Blessed" on the Hard Days

If you find yourself thinking, "This sounds great, but how do I live this out?", I've listed some easy-to-implement action steps below:

1. Start Your Day with Reflection: Every morning, I start my day by talking to God. I journal what's on my heart and mind and explain what's bothering me. Doing this first thing when you wake up gets the weight off your chest and reminds you that God is in control when everything around you feels out of control. 

2. Memorize One Verse: I'm not good at memorizing Scripture, but writing it on a sticky note and placing it somewhere I often look is helpful. Then, when you're tempted to stay down or fight your battles alone, you can fight your thoughts with Scripture. 

3. Worship Through It: Create a playlist of songs that reminds you of God’s faithfulness. Start with “I’m So Blessed (Best Days Remix)” by CAIN. Even when you don't feel like praising, let it carry you forward.

4. End Your Day with Gratitude: Each evening, write down three things you're grateful for that day, no matter how small. If you still have breath in your lungs, God isn't finished with you yet. 

Agape, Amber

Photo Credit: ©Getty Images/Lidiia Moor

amber ginter headshotAmber Ginter is a teacher-turned-author who loves Jesus, her husband Ben, and granola. Growing up Amber looked for faith and mental health resources and found none. Today, she offers hope for young Christians struggling with mental illness that goes beyond simply reading your Bible and praying more. Because you can love Jesus and still suffer from anxiety. You can download her top faith and mental health resources for free to help navigate books, podcasts, videos, and influencers from a faith lens perspective. Visit her website at amberginter.com.

This content first appeared on iBelieve.com and is used here with permission. To view the original visit: https://www.ibelieve.com/christian-living/this-isnt-the-end.html
 

You might also be interested in:

Sponsored Links

Devotionals

View All