WE OVERCOME THROUGH CHRIST, THE TRIUMPHANT ONE
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Have you met upon challenges that need to be overcome in your life? Are you facing trying times that demand a faith that overcomes?
For overcoming faith, we need a Savior who has overcome. Jesus promises us that He has done just that… He has overcome 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 we slog through the mire of our troubles on our own?
This amazing passage 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 for us through the fires of tribulation. As we follow hard after Him… as we draw upon His power… we are strengthened to face our trials.
Why does our Lord allow troubles to come our 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.
“In the world you will have tribulation. But take courage; I have overcome the world!” – John 16:33
Are we living in our problems or are we 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 to Him. He calls us to be courageous, confident, undaunted by our circumstances. We learn to praise Him in the good times… and seek Him and lean on Him in the tough times.
“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
Perhaps we face our challenging times wondering… Why me? Why has God allowed this to come my way? Our self-focus causes us to see God in the shadow of our problems. Yet when we see our problems in the light of His overcoming power, we discover a faith that overcomes.
There are eternal reasons for our temporary afflictions. There are paths along which God’s children pass that take us through shadows and darkness. We may not understand why. Yet, with Him as our Guide and Counselor, these paths will lead to eternal glory. 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 our faith in trials? How will He help us overcome?
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 submit 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 overcome the world and all that comes against us. In Him, we discover a faith that overcomes.
