A Battle From Within

It’s not just your suffering that calls for a mighty God. No. It’s not just your hardships and trials and circumstances that need an answer from God Almighty. No.

What showers you with shame and covers you with condemnation is really what holds you hostage. And what hides you in all your hesitation and fractures you with all your fear is really what keeps you stuck. It really is a battle from within, not a battle in the seen, that calls for Almighty God (Ephesians 6:12).

And this battle has been from the beginning. “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?” The serpent asked (Genesis 3:1), causing doubt to rise. And he still whispers it today to every life that’s ever lived, even your one life. In every hard situation, through every struggle, he interrogates, “Did God really say He’ll keep you and care for you through this? Did God really say He‘s made you holy and righteous in Christ, a child of His, forgiven and redeemed forever? Even with all this going on? Even after all you’ve done and all you should have done? Did God really promise life to you?” And the same doubt rises.

When fear and shame and condemnation come and cause you to hesitate with life, because of life, it’s never the external things holding you captive. No. What holds you captive is hearing and believing the lies from the evil one, the lies that cause you to doubt God.

For in your weakness, when you feel most unloved, because of your desperate need, when you feel most unacceptable, the lies appear believable, and the doubt comes in. And this is what calls for a mighty God and desperately needs an answer from God Almighty. Always! You cannot fight a battle from within on your own. Not ever.

“But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Corinthians 15:57)! God has given us the answer: Jesus. You need Jesus!

Let your sufferings draw you to Him, the One Who is Comforter. Let your circumstances point you to Him, the One Who is Sovereign over all. Let your trials and hardships journey you to Him, the Way and the Truth and the Life. Again and again! Oh, blessed are you when you mourn, and because you are poor and meek (Matthew 5:3-5)! You have received the revelation of God’s love for you, where death has no sting on you (1 Corinthians 15:55). For you have found Christ Jesus, the One Who gives you the victory!

So let the sufferings come. Let the struggles and deep hurts of life come because Christ is your life and everything you need.

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“…grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen.” - 2 Peter 3:18 NIV

“A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.” - Ephesians 6:10 NLT