WE OVERCOME THROUGH CHRIST, THE TRIUMPHANT ONE
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Have you met upon challenges that need to be conquered in your life? Are you facing trying times that demand a faith that prevails?
For overcoming faith, we need a Savior who has overcome. Jesus promises us that He has done just that… He has conquered the world and all evil. He has won the victory for us.
“When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.” – Isaiah 43:2
Do you find yourself slogging through the mire of your troubles on your own?
This amazing passage from Isaiah tells of the Lord’s presence in our trials. As believers, we never face our troubles alone. He is always with us. He encourages us to grow a deeper faith in our times of difficulty.
God forges our rivers of adversity before us. He makes a way through the fires of tribulation. As we follow hard after Him… as we draw upon His power, we are strengthened to face our trials.
“In the world you will have tribulation. But take courage; I have overcome the world!” – John 16:33
Are you living in your problems or are you living in Christ?
Jesus warns us in this passage that we will have troubles, trials and difficult times in this life. Often, we are surprised when they come our way. Perhaps we expect life to be perfect… yet our Lord never promises us that. In fact, He promises quite the opposite.
Jesus shares with us the key to a faith that overcomes. He is the Triumphant One… and we are united with Him. He calls us to be courageous, confident, undaunted by our circumstances. We learn to praise Him in good times and bad. In tough times, we lean on Him… and seek His presence and power to prevail.
“A person who wholly follows the Lord is one who believes that the promises of God are trustworthy, that He is with His people, and that they are well able to overcome.” – Watchman Nee, Missionary
In challenging times, do you wonder… why me? Why has God allowed this to come my way?
If our lives were without challenges, we would have no need for our all-powerful God. We would come to have faith in ourselves alone, independent of Him.
If God gave us no mountains to climb… no rivers to forge… no fiery trials, our faith in Him would not grow. It is in our darkest times that we often recognize His presence the most. In our trying times, we are humbled… humbled by our circumstances that drive us back to Him.
Self-focus causes us to see God in the shadow of our problems. Yet when we see our problems in the light of His surpassing power, we discover a faith that overcomes. For His light always defeats the darkness.
There are eternal reasons for our temporary afflictions. There are paths along which God’s children pass that lead through shadows and darkness. We may not understand why. Yet, with Him as our Guide and Counselor, these paths will lead to our eternal best. The greater the obstacle, the greater the glory in overcoming.
“For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.” – 1 John 5:4
How will God help grow your faith in trials?
God empathizes with us as we face trying times. He reminds us of His presence. With His compassionate love, He refreshes and revives us. He keeps us close, strengthening us so we can bear our afflictions. He sees us through with His victory.
God will not allow our troubles to separate us from His love, nor will He allow our challenging times to cause our faith to fail. He desires to teach us and lead us to a deeper faith. We learn to pray with greater fervency, perseverance and passion.
“Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of our faith.” – Hebrews 12:2
We are not to live overwhelmed by our problems, but to rise above them with overcoming faith. Our independence separates us from God… our dependence unites us with Him. We surrender wholly to Him, allowing His divine purpose to play out in our lives.
Our God is the Faithful One… ever-present with us. We take heart and endure our trials with boldness and confidence that can only come from Him. For in Christ, we can have a faith that overcomes the world and all that comes against us.
† Eternal Takeaway – Overcoming faith faces life’s challenges with a courageous trust in God †
