'Hunkered Down in This Corner'

❣️😗 Have you ever found yourself in a "season of life," whenever, you "seem to be" backed into a corner "of sorts?" 🐒 Presently, this is where I find myself..."in a corner" (metaphorically speaking)! 😙 I didn't realize that "the backing into it" was happening, until I find myself actually in it (so to speak), hunkered down, and, "feeling" trapped! 😳 I have only myself to - blame and/or credit - for letting it happen (God is sovereign, etc., however, the 'free-will' that HE has given each of us - allows for - our  - choices and decisions)! 🙌🏼 I could blame several other people, but, that would only prolong the amount of time in which I'll remain down here!  The bottom line is that, choice after choice, and, decision after decision, I went further - backward and downward - into it! 😉 You know, to me, it is a "corner, " but, to God, it may be something else, maybe - a good thing?!  Let us - hope and pray that - this IS the case!! 😌🙏🏼 It also, "seems like," I've been down here for much too long...as if - the time down here - shall never end! 😔 A preacher friend used to teach/preach an inspirational series of "messages," on the 'Eagle.'  I recall him explaining a "season" that, many, if not all, older Eagles 🦅 experience, whenever, they go through a very difficult time. 😢🦅 They lose their motivation, and, go through what we humans may call - a "mid-life crisis."  They become weak, lose all their feathers, and, must wait, down in the valley, until new ones are grown.  I believe, he told us that, some of the Eagles - give up - and die - during this time of weakness.  The main reason that, some of them, make it through this "valley," is because, many stronger, younger Eagles, who are not "in the valley," drop meat down to them, and, communicate to them - in "Eagle language," encouraging them (if you will) things such as:  we are "missing" you, we are waiting up here for you, EAT, fight to live, come and SORE with us - once again, etc.! 🦅🦅 What an extraordinary analogy of how that, stronger Believers,"should" encourage, exhort, care for, feed spiritual food, and help them grow, etc., the weaker ones, in 'The Church!' ✝️ I am not writing about 'Depression' (clinical, or, other types) here!  I am referring to a - "time," "season," or a "valley - type - experience" (you might say)! 😔 Of course, Isaiah 40:31, just came to my mind! 🙏🏼🦅 Waiting on God, is, most of the time - NOT EASY, and, can be, quite frustrating, which is why it is vitally important to - pray, read, study, and meditate on 'HIS WORD,' 🙏🏼📖✝️ and, depend on help from HIS wonderful 'Holy Spirit,' ETC.! 🕊💜 I am confident that, I shall come out of this "corner," or, "season," in which I presently find myself - precisely at the exact time - already determined by my 'Lord!' 🙌🏼 There was a time, during the "time spent in this corner," that, I honestly did not know, if, I would ever get out of it! 😔 However, slowly, God is restoring my hope that, I shall - COME - up and out of it - at HIS appointed time! 😌 I WAS very close to being hopeless about this situation, which, sort of - shocked me - because, I have always been a pretty hopeful person! 😕 🥊 The best illustration of which I can think - to explain what it feels like - in this "corner," is that - of it being a Boxer (the term "corner" correlates with this), who is "down for the - eight count," with no strength with which - to get back up - on my feet! 🥊 As I wait in this "corner," every now and again, when I somehow muster up enough desire, strength and courage, etc., to even TRY to attempt to get, up and out, something or someone, holds - and/or - pushes me - back down! 🥊😫 Therefore, eventually, I had reached a "state" of ALMOST giving up - on - ever getting - up and out - of this "corner," in this, "boxing ring, and match," in which, I probably should not have entered - in the first place! 😏 To me, NOW, it almost - seems like - a bad "boxing manager" (the devil) "fixed" this "fight" (for me to lose), knowing full well that - it was not in my best interest, and, although the "owner" (represents - God) of our "gym," didn't love the plan, he DID give his approval of it - anyway, maybe as a - learning/growing experience - or - for other reasons?! 😌 I am at his (the owner's) mercy - at this point, well, I always was, however, I realize it - NOW! 🥊✝️ The reality of the matter, is that, through the CROSS OF CHRIST, for me, one of HIS followers (boxers), the match WAS - FIXED - two thousand plus years ago, whenever, 'THE RESURRECTION' PAID for my VICTORY!  After that, my old "dirty manager" (signifying - Satan/the devil) never stood a chance of causing me to lose!  It was a "FIXED MATCH," and, was fixed by JESUS - for me - to WIN! 🖤❤️✝️🙌🏼 The other boxer in the ring with me, my opponent, is representative of, ALL of the various - circumstances, situations, tests, trials, temptations, etc., of my life that, I have - LET - keep me in this "corner!" 🥊  IF, I'll go back to "auto pilot" "if you will," and, "throw punches" (live my life), according to what the "Boxing - instruction book" (THE WORD OF GOD/BIBLE), suggests, then, the perception and perspective - of my mind, shall become - positively and supernaturally - affected, and, this shall affect the rest of my being, also! 📖 Consequently, I SHALL make it - out of this "corner," and, "match," and shall eventually - after many more "matches," but, prayerfully - not many more "corners," experience - VICTORY! 👑 But first, I must, finish "my course," as the great apostle Paul - admonishes me to do (2 Timothy 4:7)! 📖✝️💜 I'm guaranteed a "competitor's participation award," (Ephesians 2:8-10), however, I am not satisfied with that - only, but rather, I desire to HONOR my, "coach and owner" (Father, Jesus/Son, Holy Spirit), by the way in which, I - perform, fight, compete, live, etc., my life (conduct my "Boxing 🥊 career" you might say)!  I desire to be rewarded by HIM with a smile (most of all), and, crowns (rewards) about which are written in HIS WORD, that are given to HIS obedient children - in recognition of a variety of honorable qualities, services on HIS behalf, and the such, that are done with pure motives - in the name of Jesus, so that, I may cast them back down at HIS feet - in - more than deserved - worship of HIM (Revelation 22:12)! 👑✝️💜👑 I'm expecting to see that "referee's" hand - reaching down - toward me - anytime now - signaling that - it's time for me to clasp it, get up, and, GO FORWARD, punching, etc., in Jesus' name - EVEN IF - it's in my next match, due to the fact that, in this one, I ended up being considered "KNOCKED OUT," because, I couldn't get up on my own - by the count of eight! 😳🥊 👋🏼 I can trust 'The Judge' to accurately grade me!  And, thankfully, due to my Lord Jesus, it's judged through HIS GRACE! 🙌🏼✝️ Don't give up, my fellow "fighters!!" 😘 Through CHRIST - WE HAVE ALREADY WON (HE has already "fixed" this "fight" - in our FAVOR)!! 🙌🏼✝️👑 👋🏼 Until next time...