There’s an old saying – “tough times never last; tough people do.”

And then there’s the country song that says,

“If you’re goin’ through hell, keep on going;
Don’t slow down, if you’re scared don’t show it.
You might get out before the devil even knows you’re there.”

That song isn’t exactly scripturally correct but it does encourage me to remember that when I’m in the valley of the shadow of death, I don’t have to stay there. I do have the ability to keep going.

“The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.  He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.  He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.  Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.  Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.  Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.” Psalm 23

I think the Lord might be trying to tell me something…. I wrote about this scripture a few days ago; my pastor read it to us a few days after that, and  when I Googled ‘scriptures for tough times”, that was the first one to pop up.

I don’t know about you, but I’m going through tough times. I just told a very dear friend this morning that we’ve got two choices- either we can decide that all the struggles we’re going through are more trouble than it’s worth; or we can just keep fighting and trusting God, knowing that nothing happens outside His permission. I am too old and mean and set it my ways to quit now.