Oft times we end up in certain circumstances and situations and inflict pain upon ourselves because of decisions we have made or allowed someone to make for us. Nevertheless, for every decision there will be consequences. There is purpose in each of us and whatever it takes the purpose shall be fulfilled.
Sufferings, trials and tribulations come to make us strong in the Lord. God wants us to know him, not just by name or what we have read about him, not even by what we are taught, but God wants us to know exactly who He is. My late grandmother taught me the importance of knowing Psalm 23 in it's entirety. She loved it so much until she taught me to repeat, read and memorize it. Her words were of such, that if ever you get in trouble, every time you go for a job interview, every time your enemies get on your trail, every time you get sick, and every time you are faced with challenges, repeat Psalm 23 three times a day. After becoming an adult, faced with many challenges, I repeated Psalm 23 just as I was taught. I would even write my name in that passage of scripture wherever personal pronouns were used, to make it personal. What am I saying? What does this have to do with struggles? What does this have to do with being Cast Down, But Not Destroyed? Thanks for asking, because the answer to these questions and more are defined in the contents of this book. It is my greatest desire that as you read through the pages of this book you will find solutions to your problems, joy in times sorrow, peace in the midst of confusion, an increase in your faith, shelter from the storm, hope to face a new tomorrow, light in the dark areas of your life, healing for your soul, but most of all, God, the one who is able to carry you through whatever you are faced with in life.
It behooves me to say, with a strong conviction, that it is one thing to read the Psalm, it's another to repeat the Psalm, and it's just wonderful when you can memorize the Psalm. However, it brings GREAT CONSOLATION not just knowing the Psalm but knowing the one in which David referred to in the Psalm. When you really know God to be a Shepherd, you don't mind being cast down, because you have that blessed assurance that you will not be destroyed.
