Your shoes are worn through from running, your hands raw from climbing, your knees bloodied from falling; you are tired. You are not alone.

Dear fellow man, you are certainly not alone. We live in a world saturated by evil, deceit, hate, and chaos. And, though the news might make you believe otherwise, the state of this union is no more dire than it has been for the existence of mankind. This is because, as humans, I don’t think we have become particularly more moral than we have ever been–there are just more spotlights to highlight our wrongdoings.

I know you have been fighting the good fight. I know that sometimes you wonder if you’re making a dent; some days you aren’t. Some days your fight is unproductive, but it’s never in vain.

Holding up your fists for what is right is as much to give the other guy a black eye as it is to keep you from getting one.

You see, the fight is necessary to preserve yourself.

You want to sleep. You want a break. But they keep coming after you. Should you shut of the lights, they’ll come in the dark. You want them to give you a break, but demons don’t rest–no matter the shape or form they appear in.

They say, “God doesn’t give you anything you can’t handle,” don’t they? And you’re sure as hell not able to handle this. Well, I think God always gives us more than we can handle. How else would we grow?

You can’t expect to get stronger by always lifting the same 5 lbs. weights every time you work out (guilty…). Spiritual and personal growth is the same. You have to challenge your body in order to actively build muscle; accordingly, you have to challenge your mind and spirit in order to strengthen them.

God gives us more than we can handle, sometimes even far more, not only to grow us, but also to help us learn to depend on Him. He doesn’t want us to do it on our own; He wants us to trust Him. Remember, He says, in Jeremiah 29:11:

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

So, regardless of the trials you’re facing, remember that there is someone much bigger than you that has it all figured out already. If you are weary, pray for strength; if you are defeated, pray for victory; if you are broken, pray for healing.

He has plans for you and His plans are always for your good.