But God.......
You know how badly we had been treated at Philippi just before we came to you and how much we suffered there. Yet our God gave us the courage to declare his Good News to you boldly, in spite of great opposition. -1 Thessalonians 2:2
When backed into a corner, Satan will turn up the heat to try and stop us from doing God’s will. Most often when we are on our way to fulfilling God’s call Satan will introduce opposition in attempt to slow us down or discourage us from finishing the task. It comes in many forms. Our computer breaks down right before a big project is due, we wake up sick on the day of an important meeting, people in our lives, even those we trust, begin opposing what we are doing. We can find ourselves wrongly accused or alone on a mission. Our money may run out or a friendship may be lost. Everything bad that happens to us is an opportunity for Satan to jump in and steal the show. But God……….
God will always use our circumstances for His glory, if we let Him. God will never leave us alone on a journey where satan pulls out all the stops to defeat us on the way. If we stick to God, and keep our focus on the end result, He will always defeat Satan’s plan to steal, kill and destroy.
Read, for example, the many oppositions of Paul: “Five different times the Jewish leaders gave me thirty-nine lashes. Three times I was shipwrecked. Once I spent a whole night and a day adrift at sea. I have traveled on many long journeys. I have faced danger from rivers and from robbers. I have faced danger from my own people, the Jews, as well as from the Gentiles. I have faced danger from men who claim to be believers but are not. I have worked hard and long, enduring many sleepless nights. I have been hungry and thirsty and have often gone without food. I have shivered in the cold, without enough clothing to keep me warm.” -2 Corinthians 11:24-27. But after all of his suffering God made it possible for Paul to continue on with His will. Day in and day out, through all of this suffering God was faithful.
We, too, are given courage to continue on our journeys. God won’t always stop Satan from slowing us down. In fact, He will often allow hardships because there is something to gain in enduring them. But, He will never let us be defeated, if we vow to keep moving forward, in His Name, for His Glory. As we draw closer to God, our trust in Him grows. As our trust grows, we can walk a little farther with each new task. As we move farther, the opposition will push us closer to God. It’s a win win, friends! A never ending circle of love and learning and growth!
My dear friend, God is so so good! Life with Him won’t always be easy, but it will be the best life for you. What are you facing today? How is Satan trying to stop you today? Don’t look at it as opposition but something that will push you closer to where you want to be.