Isaiah 42 is full of promises to those who will partake of God’s goodness; this passage also reveals that God’s purpose in creating you and calling you to Himself is that you will reflect His glory. Here are a few beautiful, encouraging phrases from the Psalm:

• I have called you in righteousness.
• I will hold you by the hand and watch over you.
• Your life will be a light to others.
• I declare new things over you.
• Sing to the Lord a new song.
• Shout for joy.
• Give glory to God.
• The Lord will go forth before you.
• He will prevail against the enemy.
• He will make darkness into light before you.
• He will make rugged places into plains.

I know beyond a shadow of a doubt, what has carried me through the deepest and darkest valley I have ever walked has been my willingness to lean on these promises. Even in the period where I struggled to trust God’s plan for my life, questioned His agenda, and challenged His motives, deep within me I trusted my prior experience and understanding of the character and nature of God. This valley may have been the darkest I had walked, but over the years there were other valleys and struggles. Whilst navigating them, my own weaknesses were revealed and my strengths became the vanguard of my daily existence.

It may sound like contradictory reasoning when I state my weaknesses are my greatest strength. Every loss and heartache reveals my brokenness. Every failure reveals my lack of confidence. Every defeat reveals my weakness. Yet this I know, I can lay them all down at the feet of my Father because of the promise He has made in His word.

“’My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.”

2 Corinthians 12:9

I pray that my life would be a reflection of His strength being made perfect in weakness. The warrior in me acknowledges my (not so secret) weapon is the power of Christ in me. Would you tap into that same power that is made abundantly available to all who call upon His name? Grief, Trauma, and Despair will bring you to your knees in defeat and surrender.

Remember this – you are not surrendering to your circumstances but you are surrendering to the Magnificent Potter; He who fearfully and wonderfully knit you can and does break you and rebuild you into a vessel of His bidding for a higher calling. Live a victorious life, notwithstanding the many defeats along the way.