July 13, 2026
Hello, Beloved.
There’s a version of faith that promises that struggles will vanish once you meet Jesus. You know, confess your promises, claim victory, and *poof*, suddenly your troubles disappear. And don’t admit that you’re going through a difficult time because such a confession might solidify your struggles. Friends, that’s not the gospel. The gospel promises something better: our struggles can be redeemed.
I know many of you are facing Goliaths, giant issues in your life that require the Father’s resilience, faith, and deliverance. Like some of you, we have had a challenging season for our family due to personal struggles, health concerns, and friends facing hardships. If you’re experiencing something similar right now, know that we see you. Remember, not all suffering is a sign of wrongdoing. It’s simply a part of being human in a broken world. Everyone knows suffering, and no one is exempt from it.
Here’s what I’ve said to us over the past few weeks: suffering can cloud our view of Christ, weaken our faith, and raise sincere questions about whether God is truly good. If you’ve ever wondered that in the midst of a difficult time, you’re not alone.
Paul understood this before he ever wrote a single word of Scripture from a prison cell. He was a violent man, zealously working to destroy the church he would later give his life to serving. Then, on the road to Damascus, Jesus showed up, confronted him, and called him to be His servant. Paul met Jesus. And here’s what I love: his conversion didn’t diminish his intensity. It redirected it. The same fire that once fueled persecution became fuel for pastoral love, gospel mission, and relentless prayer for people he had never even met. Let me give you another example. Closer to home, some have expressed their dislike for our passionate and expressive praise and worship. I tell them, “If you knew the hell they have escaped because of God’s goodness, you wouldn’t criticize their fervent praise; you’d join them!”
Beloved, there’s a pattern I want you to hold onto: Christ doesn’t remove the struggle. He redeems it.
Paul described his struggles in various ways: suffering for the church, laboring with Christ’s empowerment, wrestling for maturity, and anguish stemming from genuine concern for those he loved. Does this resonate with you? Most of us don’t face a single type of struggle; we carry multiple ones simultaneously. Yet, Paul could affirm that his labor was not in vain because Christ was sufficient amidst it all.
This week, I invite you to reflect on what you’re truly fighting for. Surrender the belief that you can solve your suffering and that of others, and let your leadership transform into servanthood, your ambition into generosity, and your grief into compassion for someone else in pain. Finally, embrace it as a struggle worth fighting for because the Father wants to develop us as much as He wants to deliver us.
Whatever you’re struggling with right now is more significant than you may understand. Friends, it’s not wasted, and it’s not the end of your journey. The same Christ who redirected Paul’s zeal, healed his guilt, and sustained him through chains is alive today, and He can redeem your struggle as well.
May the Lord and His peace be with you!
GATEWAY EVENTS: Click here.
WHERE TO ENGAGE:
Gateway Groups (a community where you can experience God, be family, and share the love of Jesus with others.)
SUNDAY SERVICE:
The Supremacy of Christ: His Sufficiency for Our Suffering — The Enduring Struggle — Entire Service or Teaching Only
CHURCH FINANCIAL REPORT:
Click here to learn more about Greater Things (our accelerated mortgage elimination commitment) and participate.
Giving Report: (*weekly income needed $21,500)
July 5: $22,425.21
July 12: $23,460.65
July 19:
July 26:
Greater Things YTD 2026: $49,222.15
Current Mortgage Balance: $244,578.46
Take care and stay hopeful. We can’t wait to see you soon.
Transforming Lives Together,
Lance and Darlene Bane
Lead Pastor
Phone: 203-934-0880
Email: office@yourgateway.com