The enemy will use fear to blind us. He will tell us that we are powerless. He will tell us that we are not smart enough, pretty enough, educated enough, or loved enough. These are all tricks of the enemy to keep us from moving forward. Scripture tells us that we are enough in Christ. It is through Him that we are enough, not in our own selves, and not in our own strength. Our worth, strength, and value is found in our new identity in Christ. We do not have to look to the world for validation. We are enough because Jesus is enough!
“I can do all this through him who gives me strength.” (Philippians 4:13)
“The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.” (Romans 8:16-17)
“Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God” (2 Corinthians 3:5)
Scripture also tells us without faith it is impossible to please God. Faith is an action word and does not mean we sit back and have a pity party, waiting for a change to come. Faith means trusting God who’s transforming power of His Holy Spirit will help us to move our lives forward in spite of what the enemy tries to tell us and in spite of what our natural eyes see.
“And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.” (Hebrews 11:6) ESV
“We live by faith, not by sight” (2 Corinthians 5:7)
“Faith is the confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see” (Hebrews 11:1) NIV
“And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.” (Romans 5:5) ESV
“Because your faith is much too small. What I’m about to tell you is true. If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, it is enough. You can say to this mountain, ‘move from here to there.’ And it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.” (Matthew 17:20) NIRV
God’s truth is simple, but living it is not so simple. How do we believe something our eyes cannot see? How do we go on hoping when we cannot see the end of the storm? The answer is to trust God. Faith is about trusting the One who is all-knowing. Faith is about believing in the One who leads us even when we don’t know where we are being led. Faith is surrendering completely to Jesus and allowing the Holy Spirit to work in our life. It is comforting to know that with renewed faith we are never alone during difficult times. We realize that in Christ we have everything we need to overcome any of life’s challenges.
“Through Christ you have come to trust in God. And you have placed your faith and hope in God because he raised Christ from the dead and gave him great glory.” (1 Peter 1:21 NLT)
“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, And before you were born I consecrated you; I have appointed you a prophet to the nations.” (Jeremiah 1:5)
“We are pushed hared from all sides. But we are not heated down. We are bewildered. But that doesn’t make us lose hope. Others make us suffer. But God does not desert us. We are knocked down. But we are not knocked out ” (2 Corinthians 4:8-9) NIRV
Jesus gives us everything we need to keep moving forward when the earth shakes beneath us and the weight of life presses in on us. Instead of focusing on the lies of the enemy, we must focus on the Holy Spirit who speaks to us with encouragement, and who guides our steps while we move forward in faith. We must not give in to fear and defeat. We will trust God and continue to move through the pain and the storms. God’s grace is sufficient through it all. Love and Blessings…
“For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” (2 Timothy 1:7) NKJV
“The Lord is faithful, who will establish you and guard you from the evil one” (2 Thessalonians 3:3) NKJV
“But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.” (John 14:26)
“But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” (2 Corinthians 12:9-10)
EMMANUEL 