Do you find yourself in a place of struggle? Is the path you are seeking leading you to a wilderness? I have those feelings, and I need to remember one special word from the Bible. Nevertheless…

Christ spoke the word at a time of His greatest challenge. It was in the Garden of Gethsemane when He was only hours away from death on the cross. During this time, the humanity of Christ was in total agony. In His mind and imagination came the visions of what was going to happen soon physically. He had seen other people crucified. Not only the physical death, but He was to die for all man’s sins. The stress of the situation is recorded in Matthew 26:38 “My soul is sorrowful, even to death…” The Bible records His physical, mental and spiritual condition was so stressed that even His sweat was mingled with blood. The rock He cried out to God on was red with Jesus’ struggle.
Jesus spoke to His Father in prayer and said “Father, if there be any other way…please let this cup pass from me.” Then Jesus spoke a powerful word. You will not think of this word as one of the great words like faith, hope, or love. It’s not recorded in the Ten Commandments or the Beatitudes. The great word Jesus spoke was “nevertheless”. What an odd word to find comfort in! It is a word of transition. Although the topic before the word is true, the topic after this word is more true. Jesus said to his Father, “nevertheless, not my will but Yours”. Everything changed! Jesus rose up a conqueror of death and brought hope to all of us through His death on the cross.

You may find yourself in a time of frustration. Use the word “nevertheless”. This word changed Simon Peter’s life forever in Luke 5:1-11. (Luke 5:5 But Simon answered and said to Him, “Master, we have toiled all night and caught nothing; nevertheless, at Your word I will let down the net.” [NKJV] Luke 5:5 Simon answered, “Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets.” [NIV])

A few quotes from devotions I have read that Elijah felt his life was over after a great victory.

To trust where we cannot trace is to give our God the full sovereignty that He longs for.

Our error lies in mentally fixing our future according to present conditions. Have faith in God.

Nevertheless, Because I have faith in God and believe the promises of God’s word, I will press on with my Lightnside.