Knocked Down but Not Out

"We know that suffering produces perseverance;character; and hope." -Romans 5:3-4

 In my course of Acts: The Holy Spirit at work in Believers, I have seen first hand how God uses our trials to the benefit of His glory! On their journeys, Paul and Silas endured persecution, imprisonment, mockery, scorn and the difficulty of walking with complete faith into the unknown. Pg. 192 in the book says: "From their departure point in Antioch to Troas, Paul traveled a minimum of 1,450 miles, the last 950 of which involved not knowing where they were going, only where they were not supposed to go."
This amazes me, because all the while they endured hardship and persecution but they kept on because they were committed to truly following where the Holy Spirit lead them.
 This is where my inspiration of the title comes in. "Knocked DOWN but not OUT"

I hate when people try to paint the Christian life as only this perfect life that means when you die you will live in a big mansion on gold streets. I believe that choosing to live a life devoted to Christ will absolutely bring conflict, because you are going AGAINST THE GRAIN in living a changed life.

  

Making the choice to let God shape us can sometimes be a VERY painful journey, but the end result is something is only possible through that process. Pg.165 of the book says: "Sometimes our loss is allowed so that we can appreciate and value more greatly the victory that is soon to follow." 
I know for myself God has sent me places before that made no sense and all the while it's like everything and everyone were coming against me from every angle. However, in every one of those times I can now look back and see how victorious and faithful He was. Sometimes we have to be destroyed and go through MEGA hardships to understand that our help comes only from the Lord. If you are anywhere close to as stubborn as I am God really really has to break you down before you realize that you need Him.

I have found that this is one of THE HARDEST things in life to do. However, I've also found that as soon as we surrender, God begins to shape character into us and He begins to use us in ways we never thought we could be used because of His Holy Spirit in us.

God's Criteria: the lowliest, the un-worthy, the broken, the depressed, the angry wall builders, suicidal, druggies, cutters, the murders, the prostitutes, gang members, the bullies, the haters.

  .BRING RESTORATION.

The Exchange: royalty, worthiness, wholeness, joy, life, hope, freedom, value, a true family, healing and LOVE.    

When we finally surrender up to Him and allow him to produce character and hope in our life, true beauty comes to life. He shapes you and uses the things you went through to glorify Him by bringing people to the Kingdom of God. He wants to use YOU. I hope this brings somethings into perspective and if nothing else brings a little glimmer of hope that there IS a light at the end of the tunnel. Allow Him to build character our of your darkness, because He wants to bring hope to the broken. You are knocked down but you are NOT knocked out.