It is easier to
have faith in God with our mouths than with our actions and lifestyles. Bible
makes it very clear that “faith without works is dead” [James 2:17]. We must
show fruit of our professed faith. It is not easy keeping your faith when all
seems to be spiraling down. How can you trust God when everyone around you is
calling you crazy for wanting to be obedient to Him? When the very people close
to you do not believe you could possibly have a relationship with God where you’re
close enough to hear Him speak? When people tell you you’re actually hearing
the devil when you tell them about what God has instructed you to do or the
promises He’s given you? Like what? How dare you downplay someone’s
relationship with Christ? {Insert annoyed emoji lol} So how do you stay encouraged when you're getting hit from every angle with trials and you feel like nobody understands and the very people you expect to support you are too focused on your physical circumstance to realize what God is doing in your life? Giving up is definitely not an option.
- You must realize that this fight is NOT physical. “For our battle is not against flesh and blood but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms” [Ephesians 6:12] So its not really your friends or your family or your boss that you have this battle against rather demons that do not rest until your life crumbles and falls into pieces.
- Know that before a great victory, there is a great battle. Jesus Christ won the victory for our lives when He battled in the grave with Satan. Satan will not allow you to have it easy obeying God…no no no. He’s not going down without a fight. He and his cohorts are constantly working things against you in the spiritual realm that’s why you HAVE to put on the full armor of God! Get in your word for it is your double-edged sword that will penetrate any and everything. Take up your shield of faith to block off all the fiery darts of the enemy. And don’t stop praying! Pray constantly because “The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.” [James 5:16b]
- Don’t allow peoples opinion to downplay the relationship you have with God. Satan telling you to do something is NOT the same as God telling you. There is a huge difference and I’m sure you will know when you spend time with God daily and feed yourself with His word. I know when Satan tries to push ideas in my head. I never feel at peace with those decisions. And I know the voice of my Father and how He speaks to me. Just like Jesus said in the parable of the shepherd “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me” [John 10:27] God spoke those promises to you and NOT your friends or family so don’t be discouraged when they don’t believe you. If God wants them to know, He will let them know. So keep trusting The One whom you have believed in and has brought you thus far.
- Lastly, God will never send you somewhere He has not made a provision for. HE IS GOD! Unlike us humans, He has His stuff together. He has planned your life even before you existed so don’t you think He’s already gone before you and made the necessary provisions for the command He has given you? He can turn things around in just a second. So your situation right now does not show any sign of His promises, so what? You’re like 6 months away from the promise date anyways so don’t you think that’s enough time? Even 1 second is enough time for God. Just stay with the process and be patient for the fulfillment of the promise. He will not lie.
In as much as I write
my posts to encourage others in this Christian walk, it is actually a letter I’m
writing to myself to help me through my current season. All that God is pouring into me, i'm pouring out so someone else can stay in the race and not give up on Him. Because if we had a glimpse of what lies ahead of our obedience past these struggles, i'm sure we will be sprinting to the finished line [yea i said finished because the battle has already been won]. But God needs our total trust and submission despite circumstances. So lets stay encouraged together. I’m
not going to pretend its easy doing this because it is not. The struggle is
real and hard and if you keep your focus on the struggle, it will only get
harder for you; but if you fix your eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of
your faith, you will sail through this battle unshaken. So let people call you
crazy, let people tease you saying you heard the devil. When you stand before
God on that day, He will ask you why you listened to other people and not HIM.
I wanna hear those beautiful words said to me “job well done good and faithful
servant”...do you?
Xoxo,
Jennifer Darlington
