Beaten down by the world

Don't laugh, but I just saw Rocky Balboa. I laughed when I saw the trailer and expected the movie to be corny. As far as movies, go, it wasn't excellent, nor was it bad. I enjoyed it because of the motivational factor more than the asthetic factor. There were several inspiring moments in the movie that I appreciated and I thought were well done.

At one point Rocky is speaking with his son who has just complained that his life has been made difficult by Rocky being his father. Rocky turns to his son and basically tells him that winners don't blame other things or people for their failures. Winners take responsibility for their current situation and work to improve it.

Rocky then makes a powerful analogy (I can't quote him exactly): "Life is cruel and will keep on beating you down. What really matters is not how hard you can hit back but how hard you can get hit and still get back up."

I hear echoes of the apostle Paul in these words in 2 Corinthians 4:7-12:
“But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that his life may be revealed in our mortal body. So then, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you.”

Paul adds in Romans 8:35-37:
"Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written: “For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.” No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us."

Paul suffered incredible afflictions, persecutions and setbacks yet he never gave up. After each blow he got back up and kept on serving God. Life is cruel, people are cruel, situations are unfair, but that does not have to stop us from serving God and doing what is right.

So, life will beat you down. Expect it. But when you are down, look up to Christ and you will find the strength to get back up. You can be victorious over any circumstance you find yourself in. Christ lives in you so you do not have to be a victim but He will empower you to be a victor. Get back up and go toe-to-toe with the world confident that Christ will enable you to stand firm to the end.