We’ve all faced difficult times. Many may seem as there is no way we can overcome this one. And we cannot, not in our own strength.
"You come to me with a sword, with a spear, and with a javelin. But I come to you in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied."
1 Samuel 17:45
And we’ve all heard the saying “ Hard times will either make you or break you.” Not true, if we know who we are in Christ. We are victors not victims, through Christ, who overcame the world.
"You come to me with a sword, with a spear, and with a javelin. But I come to you in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied."
1 Samuel 17:45
And we’ve all heard the saying “ Hard times will either make you or break you.” Not true, if we know who we are in Christ. We are victors not victims, through Christ, who overcame the world.
It’s impossible to get through this life unscathed, avoiding all form of stress and strife.
Becoming a Christian does not exempt us from such things, as many teach today.
In fact, it’s quite the opposite!
Think of our struggles as an athletic opponent, do you really need to exert the same energy defeating an unworthy opponent, as you would a tough competitor?
Of course not!
Our adversary, Satan, doesn’t fight against those who are already his, but those who belong to Christ. But we must keep in mind, Satan is the author, the father of lies!
He has already been defeated! Yet he eagerly attempts to convince of otherwise!That why we are not called to fight, but to “Watch, stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong.” against him.
1 Corinthians 16:13
Adversity doesn’t change who we are, it simply reveals who we are.
You are victorious through Jesus Christ! You have the victory regardless of what your circumstances are claiming.
The Lord Jesus Christ is sufficient for all of your needs!
“But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
The apostle Paul wrote; “Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” 2 Corinthians 12:10
I can personally testify to Paul’s thoughts on adversity. It was while laying flat on my back, in a hospital bed, With no where else to look but UP, God used this time to cause me to grow in a deeper relationship with Him, and study of Scripture.
Often, God puts us in a particular place, through adversity, for His specific purpose. We are given the unique opportunity to share the gospel with others, point them towards Christ, that we might not otherwise have the opportunity to engage.
We must learn to recognize those opportunities, allow our adversity to become a platform for the gospel of Jesus Christ. We should think twice before we complain about our circumstances, our difficulties, it might just be that God is up something, using us for something eternal!
God gave us the free will to choose. What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is preached; and in this I rejoice, yes, and will rejoice.
When we connect our joy to our source, the Lord, our circumstances and situations in life cannot dictate our ability to experience joy! When the apostle Paul wrote the prison epistles, he was prisoner, chained in a Roman prison. But rather that to ask God to remove his chains, he asked God to use this chains!
And Paul preached the gospel to the guards in prison. Adversity isn’t meant to destroy us, it’s meant to elevate us in doing God’s purpose
Brian Monzon Ministries