For the past 2 months, the song “The struggle is over” has resonated in my spirit. For the past 6 weeks, it has been the song of altar call as you petition God for an answer. This morning, Brother Melvin performed a praise dance to the same song that reveals the struggle is over. I petitioned God to reveal to me the significance of this song and why it has weighed in my spirit for so long. He had me to begin reflecting on the various circumstances. World wide, unjust wars begun under false allegations to vindicate a long standing feud, when there is a genocide occurring in a poor nation killing hundreds of thousands and nothing is said. In a nation that has found a way to reinstate slavery through the judicial system. By imprisoning black men and boys for a gram of cocaine, but allowing those who traffic in the coke into the streets where these boys and men live to pump the poison in with minimal repercussions. A denomination that is reeling from allegations of sexual misconduct of those who preach to persuade people that holiness is right. In a state where baby boy establishes programs based on a whim, and removed viable programs without thought or concern that it will affect. In a city school system where separate but equal has been outlawed but has not been taken out of practice. In a church house where people struggle with day-to-day problems that seem larger than life and at times our personal situation seems hopeless and we feel helpless. Is it no wonder why we need a word to empower us to believe, that the struggle is over?
In this passage, we find Isaiah in a season of praise – rejoicing in the knowledge of who is actually in charge, and why our struggles are not actually our struggles. Because of the God’s grace and power, we will be victors. It is the song that is sung throughout the Scriptures. This is the assurance that we have from God himself. Our lives will not be lived in vain. Those who berate, belittle, and batter God’s people will be exposed and his beloved children, his saints of light, will receive vindication and salvation from the Father they love.
In fact, the songwriter is really embracing the words of Isaiah. He states, wherever you are, whatever you’ve been going through, God said, the struggle is over for you. You’ve been in this thing long enough. And your mountainside has been rough. The struggle is over for you. He is not saying that there will be not hard times or difficulties, because if that were the case, it couldn’t be over if it never started. He is simply reminding us that the struggle is not bigger then God… and God is still in control… so it isn’t our struggle --- so it is over.
2 Chronicles 20:14-15 we find Jehosaphat receives a word
14 Then the Spirit of the LORD came upon Jahaziel the son of Zechariah, the son of Benaiah, the son of Jeiel, the son of Mattaniah, a Levite of the sons of Asaph, in the midst of the assembly. 15 And he said, “Listen, all you of Judah and you inhabitants of Jerusalem, and you, King Jehosaphat! Thus says the LORD to you: ‘Do not be afraid nor dismayed because of this great multitude, for the battle is not yours, but God’s.
If you read the entire chapter, you will find that Jehoshaphat.is in a predicament. There are rumors that a massive army will attack his people. Jehoshaphat calls his people into a season of fasting and praying. Turning the struggle over (the struggle is over) to God and waiting for a word of instruction. God not only came with instruction, He came with assurance. We can’t fix any problem, but God will use us to rectify and restore. If we stand still and wait for instruction and than act after we receive instruction, God will heal and restore communities, regions, nations, and yes even affairs that affect the world. But if we are too petrified to believe that God can change our household messes, how can we trust Him enough to instruct and use us in the bigger scope of things. But if we embrace that no weapon formed against us, and if we believe the battle is not ours, it’s the Lords – we can actually celebrate and say the struggle over.
Psalms 27:1-5
The Lord is my light and the One Who saves me. Whom should I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life. Of whom should I be afraid?
2 When sinful men, and all who hated me, came against me to destroy my flesh, they tripped and fell.
3 Even if an army gathers against me, my heart will not be afraid. Even if war rises against me, I will be sure of you.
4 One thing I have asked from the Lord, that I will look for: that I may live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to look upon the beauty of the Lord, and to worship in His holy house.
5 For in the day of trouble He will keep me safe in His holy tent. In the secret place of His tent, He will hide me. He will set me high upon a rock.
The reason we have difficulty embracing the totality of God is because we are afraid to put our total trust in anything but that which we can see. If we can see the outcome, we believe God did it… but while we are going through, we forget where to keep our eyes. But the psalmist expresses it best when he states why should I be scared, I got God! Why should I worry about what somebody claims they will do? I Got God. Why should I be overly concerned about what Bush says is gonna happen if we don’t send thousands more over to Iraq… I’ve got God. Why should I be afraid to stand up against the injustices in our neighborhood, community, city, state, nation, or world? I’ve Got God… and since I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. The very things satan is trying to convince me will defeat me, I know that because my daddy said no weapons…. It’s a fixed fight… so I don’t struggle with it….
The word of God concludes it in Psalms 30:1-5
1 I will lift You up, O Lord, for You have lifted me up. You have not let those who hate me stand over me in joy.
2 O Lord my God, I cried to You for help and You healed me.
3 O Lord, You have brought me up from the grave. You have kept me alive, so that I will not go down into the deep.
4 Sing praise to the Lord, all you who belong to Him. Give thanks to His holy name.
5 For His anger lasts only a short time. But His favor is for life. Crying may last for a night, but joy comes with the new day
The first 4 verses tell us that we can release our struggles, because He has allowed us to be victorious before. We can step into our purpose, embrace our calling, and not be swayed by the winds of despair that blow all around us because we know God can and God will. And just like the songwriter said, you’ve been in this thing long enough, your mountainside has been rough… the psalm writer says…Weeping may endure for a night but joy comes in the morning.
2 Corin. 4:8-18
8 We are pressed on every side, but we still have room to move. We are often in much trouble, but we never give up. 9 People make it hard for us, but we are not left alone. We are knocked down, but we are not destroyed. 10 We carry marks on our bodies that show the death of Jesus. This is how Jesus makes His life seen in our bodies. 1.Every day of our life, we face death because of Jesus. In this way, His life is seen in our bodies. 12 Death is working in us because we work for the Lord, but His life is working in you. 13 The Holy Writings say, "I believed, so I spoke.” (Psalm 116:10) We have the same kind of faith as David had. We also believe, so we speak. 14 We know that God raised the Lord Jesus from the dead. He will raise us up also. God will take us to Himself and He will take you. 15 These things happened for your good. As more people receive God’s favor, they will give thanks for the shining-greatness of God. 16 This is the reason we do not give up. Our human body is wearing out. But our spirits are getting stronger every day. 17 The little troubles we suffer now for a short time are making us ready for the great things God is going to give us forever. 18 We do not look at the things that can be seen. We look at the things that cannot be seen. The things that can be seen will come to an end. But the things that cannot be seen will last forever.
Paul understood that struggles are part of life, and we who are saved are tools that God uses to show the world that He is. This process at times may seem tedious, troublesome, encumbering, tiring, and excruciatingly exhausting when we take it on as our own fight. But He goes on to say that this is done because of the Jesus that is in us. And it’s the Jesus that is in us that allows us to understand that we are simply clay jars, vessels used by God to do the will of God. And if we don’t lose sight or lose focus, the tragedies that we are up against will not destroy us. But instead, we will be able to shout to our situations, IT’S A FIXED FIGHT! Because the word says trouble don’t last always, but the glory of God is forever.
Isaiah 26:3 states it best, why it is we can embrace God and release the struggle
3 You will keep the man in perfect peace whose mind is kept on you, because he trusts in you.
Because your mind is steadfast and unmovable, your mountainside appears only as the molehill that it is. And since God has instructed us that our trials come to make us stronger, we have peace in our storm because our storm is our spiritual gym, and we are simply getting a workout to strengthen us to do the next thing God is calling us to do. So, instead of seeing our struggles as our struggles, see them as Gods tool to enable us to teach someone what God can do.
So as God uses you, and you see your situation in a dismal light, remind yourself, it’s not a struggle, it’s a period of empowerment and your struggle will be over.
So, as God empowers you, and you see your circumstance as hopeless, remind yourself, it’s not a struggle, it’s a stepping-stone… and your struggle will be over.
So as God breaks things off in your life so that He can add increase, don’t moan, “Why is this happening to me.” But instead rejoice and say “thank you Lord for bringing me through this thing so you can use me” and your struggle will be over.
So, as God begins to mold you, and use you in vital situations concerning your schools and streets, and people begin to talk about you… remember that God said He’s got you, and your struggle is not your struggle.
God does not desire His children to withdraw from the world. He does not desire us to become a secluded community reserved for folk that look like us and act like us. This is not His idea of struggle free. He wants us to embrace the fact that the struggle we endure, really are not ours, and that if we just learn to lean not to our own understanding but in all of our ways acknowledge Him, he will direct our path…. Because we understand, He is the one who is able. Able to keep us from falling, and present us before the throne of grace spotless… to Him belongs all dominion and power – so if he knows all things, is in control of all things, than every struggle we encounter belongs to Him, and He has a plan for it in our lives, thusly making our struggle not a struggle but a tool. So, wherever you are… whatever you’ve been going through, God said the struggle is over for you. You’ve been in this thing long enough, and your mountainside has been rough. But the struggle is over for you. This promise is made to each of His children. If you are a child of God, your struggle can be over today. To become His child you merely have to accept the Lord Jesus as your Lord and Savior. Receive the one who has guaranteed that your struggle can indeed be over. When He cried out “Father forgive them…” He was simply saying you’ve been it this place long enough, your mountainside has been rough…but because of my blood; the struggle in now mine and now mine’s over for you.
