We have all been experiencing some pretty difficult times lately. Even our children/grandchildren have been struggling. I asked our 14-year-old grandson how he was doing as we drove to church. He expressed his frustration with the pandemic. And He said he just wanted to get together as a family. He wanted things to be the way they were before the pandemic. It broke my heart because he felt so defeated. I knew I needed to remind him that this is only for a season. So, I explained to him that he is not defeated. Our grandson is not alone. We have all been struggling with the circumstances around us. And we all need a reminder that we are not defeated sometimes. But, in times like these, it is just plain difficult to remember that we are victorious.
It is difficult to remind ourselves that we are not defeated sometimes. The enemy is a deceiver. He would have us focus on the nightly news. And he wants us to dwell on the issue du jour (of the day) like social injustice, depravity, crime, the presidential race, and the shortcomings of BOTH candidates. Because he wants us to feel defeated, he draws our focus to these types of issues.
John 10:10 tells us that he comes to steal, kill, and destroy.
And he is not just targeting followers of Christ. He targets the whole world because he knows that God loves the whole world (John 3:17). He averts the focus of those who don’t know Jesus on all the turmoil in the world. And he causes us to feel defeated by focusing us on the awful things that go on in this world: those things that we cannot control. Because then we are less likely to seek hope. We are less likely to seek Jesus, the source of our hope. If we are feeling defeated by our circumstances, we typically just wallow in it.
But notice that I didn’t say he wants us to be defeated. I said he wants us to feel defeated… because we are not defeated!
“We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed;” 2 Corinthians 4:8-9.
We (followers of Christ) are VICTORIOUS! Scripture says so in 1 John 5:4, “…for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith.”
Our faith allows us to trust God and His promises. And our faith allows us to trust Jesus to be our Lord and Savior. Therein lies our victory. We just have to remember that we are not defeated. We have to live like we are victorious!
But what about the rest of the world? Well, they need us to live like we are victorious. Because that peace and comfort that we can only obtain through Christ is what they need. But, until they see someone (in the face of trial) living victoriously, they won’t even know it is possible. How much would we be drawn to an open door if we were in a burning building? Jesus is that open door for them and he reveals Himself through us. We need to be that sweet smell of victory to the world. People will be drawn to Jesus when we are that sweet smell of victory.
“But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and manifests through us the sweet aroma of the knowledge of Him in every place.” 2 Corinthians 2:14.
God has promised not to leave nor forsake us. “It is the LORD who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.” Deuteronomy 31:8. He promises us eternal life in Christ Jesus. “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 6:23. And God never loses sight of us. “But the eyes of the LORD are on those who fear him, on those whose hope is in his unfailing love.” Psalm 33:18.
We can trust God and His promises because He is faithful. And therein lies our hope. So, let’s cling to that hope. And let’s show the world how Jesus comforts those He loves… because we are not defeated.
“Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful” Hebrews 10:23.
Father, forgive us for behaving as though we are defeated. Forgive us for wallowing in our circumstances. We praise you that you are true to your word. We praise you for the comfort that you provide. And we praise you for the hope and peace that we have found in Jesus. Help us to show the world the magnitude of your love and the peace and the comfort therein. We love you and pray these things in your precious and holy name, Jesus.
Has the turmoil of this world left you overwhelmed? Do you feel defeated and deflated? Are you uncertain about the future? God provides peace, comfort and security, to those who love Him. Those that He calls His very own children. And all that it takes to become a beloved child of God is a simple heartfelt prayer. There is a prayer like that located on our Life Preserver page (https://forgiven-n-loved.com/life-preserver/). Please check out that page and that prayer. Then I’d like you to pray that prayer. Pray with sincerity, from the bottom of your heart. God loves you. And He wants a loving and personal relationship with you. But God needs you to want that relationship too.
Please pray that prayer. Once you have, please reach out to me at admin@Forgiven-N-Loved.com. Because I’d love to be in prayer with you. And I’d love to be in prayer for you. I would be my joy to welcome you into the family of God.
Luv Ya!
