Adversity introduces a man to himself. – Anonymous
Do you ever feel like you can relate to something so intensely that you might think that someone was talking straight to YOU?
I do! I know that God can use things like songs, blogs, people, His Word, kids, etc. to get His point across to us, and the crazy thing is when He does it using multiple avenues. In one day I have had the same verse shown to me in three different books, places, and people, so I know that He has me writing this particular devotional for YOU (and me too!).
Have the storms of life blown through your neck of the woods recently and knocked you down and out for a bit?
Do you sit there, on the floor, in a stunned silence as you try to figure out what in the world is going on and where did “that?!?” come from?
Thankfully His Word says…Psalm 34:18 – The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. (Change out crushed for ‘knocked down’)
Every day in my quiet time I read a quick little devotional from John Maxwell. Check out this devo from March 3rd (it just fit in too perfectly not to share it with you).
Leadership Promises for Every Day, John Maxwell, (Your Road Map for Success)
“If you fall get back up”
Austin O’Malley said, “The fact that you have been knocked down is interesting, but the length of time you remain down in important.” In life, you will have problems. Are you going to give up and stay down, wallowing in your defeat, or are you going to get back on your feet as quickly as you can? When you fall, make the best of it and get back on your feet. Learn what you can from your mistake, and then get back in the game. View your errors the way Henry Ford did his. He said, “Failure is the opportunity to begin again more intelligently.”
Ladies, can I shoot straight with you for a minute? I have experienced this “knocked down” feeling more than once in my life, and in more recent times it has happened to me about 8 months ago and the emotional fall out from it is nothing short of an ‘emotional roller coaster’. Seriously…there are ‘good’ days and ‘bad’ days with it.
In Luke 6:22-23 (The Message) -, it says… 22-23″Count yourself blessed every time someone cuts you down or throws you out, every time someone smears or blackens your name to discredit me. What it means is that the truth is too close for comfort and that that person is uncomfortable. You can be glad when that happens—skip like a lamb, if you like!—for even though they don’t like it, I do . . . and all heaven applauds. And know that you are in good company; my preachers and witnesses have always been treated like this.
Hold up there, did it just say that we are to count ourselves blessed when you “get knocked down”?
Ah…wait a minute, now the light is starting to come on…it should NOT surprise me, now should it?
I found this great quote that I just love…
“Challenges make you discover things about yourself that you never really knew. They’re what make the instrument stretch—what makes you go beyond the norm.” ~Cicely Tyson
Oh, and get this, look what I found in Malachi 1:4 – When Edom (Esau) said, “We’ve been knocked down, but we’ll get up and start over, good as new…
I LOVE it! Don’t you? It makes me think of Joseph when he’s talking to his brothers and says, “What you intended for harm God intended for good.” (Genesis 50:20 – You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good..) (Great Big Sigh here!) Is that not just amazing?!?!
Friends, the point of this is NOT to focus on getting knocked down, but rather on GETTING BACK UP! It shouldn’t surprise you (or me) that you would get knocked down, but what is surprising is how many of us stay on the ground.
We DO have a choice…and I am choosing to GET BACK UP! The great part about that is found in Psalm 138:7 (New Living Translation) – 7 Though I am surrounded by troubles, you will protect me from the anger of my enemies. You reach out your hand, and the power of your right hand saves me.
Join me in getting back up, would you? Let’s not take this sitting down. What others intended to harm us God meant for good. He has a plan for your life and He doesn’t need anything other than for us to get up and show up. So, when you get knocked down, get back up again! (You’re singing the song, aren’t you?)
I want to leave you with this…
2 Corinthians 4:7-11 (New International Version) – 7But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. 8We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; 9persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. 10We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. 11For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that his life may be revealed in our mortal body. I was knocked down, but I am SO up again,
Mel, that is so true, there are times I want to just stay down and give up, BUT I know I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Great post, Have a Blessed Sunday my friend:)
hugs,
Deb
Hi Mel: I LOVED this Speak to My Soul Sunday. It’s not what we get in life, it’s what we do with what we get that matters! That is something my mom has always said to me and it’s so true. We serve an awesome God and sometimes He does not cause “negative” things to happen to us, but He allows it in order to strengthen us and make us into the warriors He desires for His kingdom. Thank you for your words of wisdom and encouragement! Blessings! Sage
Melissa…this is SO timely a reminder for me. I can not stay down…I am going to get back up – AGAIN!!
Oh Melissa, when I started reading this, I wept. I have tears running down my face, because this, my friend, is meant for ME today. I JUST finished a blog post about how I’ve been knocked down and that I don’t want to get back up. But with God’s help, I will! Thank you for this message, and thank you Lord, for Mel’s World and for speaking to ME this Sunday!!
Great post Mel. Our sermon this morning was on this very topic. The title was “Fighting Back”. I loved Cicly Tyson’s quote.
Hugs!
Kat
It’s so true that we need to keep getting up. I am with you, I am going to keep getting up.
Thanks for the prayers for my mom. I am so glad all of you were praying for her. I appreciate it.
I really enjoyed this. It is so true. I’ve been working on a devotion/talk about how many times God tells people in the Bible to “get up” It goes right along with this. Thanks for being so transparent.
Beautiful words (again) Mel. So true and worthy of reminders.
AMEN! This is exactly what I needed today! I was feeling very ‘knocked down’ and sorry for myself yesterday for no apparent reason (might have been PMS ~ it’s a possibility!) and I have to admit, I kinda took it out on ol’ hubby. This was the perfect read first thing in the morning. I can get up, dust myself off, and be a better person today! Thanks for the encouragement!!