After preaching the Good News in Derbe and making many disciples, Paul and Barnabas returned to Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch of Pisidia, where they strengthened the believers. They encouraged them to continue in the faith, reminding them that we must suffer many hardships to enter the Kingdom of God. – Acts 14: 21-22

When the Holy Spirit appointed Paul and Barnabas to go out and spread the gospel, He fortified them with a powerful strength to lead.

Because in the course of their travels, they were attacked and cast out of towns by angry mobs. Paul was even stoned nearly to death.

Yet, when they completed their assignment and returned to the people of Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch, they strengthened the people!

You would think it would have been the other way around after all of the hardships they endured.

But because they were full to the brim with the Holy Spirit, they were able to lift up and encourage others.

And sometimes in our faith walk, we need people like Barnabas and Paul to strengthen us and remind us that hardship and long suffering are things we have to endure on the road to heaven.

When we’ve been waiting for decades for God to answer a prayer, we have to stay strong.

When we don’t understand why life keeps serving one blow after the other, we have to stay strong.

And we have to remind ourselves that this world is not God’s Kingdom. It’s full of trouble, which means we should expect to see trouble in our lives.

God knows we struggle as believers. He sees our tears, fears, and weaknesses.

That’s why we have to surround ourselves with mentors who are strong in the faith and ask the Holy Spirit to empower us to be so deeply rooted in Him, that there’s nothing in this world that could possibly uproot us.

So stay strong in the faith, my brothers and sisters.

Because God loves you, He knows everything about your life, He has not forsaken you, and He’s prepared a place for you in His eternal kingdom.

Be blessed,

Alexia

Prayer: God, help me not to be saddened, distressed, or dishearted by the trouble I experience in this world. Help me to understand that I shouldn’t look to the world for peace and fulfillment, but to you and you only. Help me to never sacrifice my commitment to you for anything the world has to offer. Empower me to live in your holiness like the Apostles Paul and Barnabas. I want to be so deep in my faith that it strengthens others. In Jesus’ Name, I pray, Amen.