This is NOT my home..

I will be completely honest...sometimes this world just makes me cry. It's tough sometimes living in this world, especially if you have a tender heart like me. I am not trying to brag, because I know only the Lord could have given me this heart for others. On my own, I would just be bitter, cruel, and downright mean. Thankfully the Lord saved me and changed me, so much for the better. He has given me compassion. Most people think this is a great thing, but sometimes I'm not so sure if I would describe it as great. Hard. Now that's a word I could readily describe it as. Having Christ-like compassion in a world that is so against Christ is hard. Extremely hard. Some days it leaves me feeling exhausted, beat up, and discouraged. And yet I wake up the next day and do the same thing over again. Why? Because Christ commands me to have love for others, even my enemies. Even when it's extremely hard. It may be hard, but I know in the end it's rewarding.

So for those of you living for Christ in this dark world and getting discouraged, don't give up hope. You are doing the right thing. Don't listen to what the world says about you and don't beat yourself up. That's just what the devil wants you to do. He wants you to start feeling terrible about yourself so you will stop having compassion for others. Don't let him get to you. Always remember that we are merely passing through. This is not our home as Christians and it is not our final destination. Let your heart cry and your prayer be "Take this world and give me Jesus. This is not where I belong." People will let you down, hurt you, and disappoint you. But they don't define you. Jesus does. He is the ultimate Judge. Others can say all they want about you, but if you are living right in the sight of the Lord that's all that matters. Next time you start getting down, you just tell yourself "This is not my home. I am living for eternity, not this world." It will be hard and it will be painful, but He will be beside you every step of the way. A follower's footsteps are not always so easy, so don't think they should be.