Every Reason To Overcome

I was laying down one long and peace less night. I couldn’t sleep. I was facing some hard and painful months and I hadn't been able to enjoy a full night of sleep. It felt like I was half asleep but at the same time worrying about random stuff. Even my dreams didn’t make sense. But this night ended different.

I was dealing with the same stress and anxiety but then suddenly my dream stopped, and it just became this very bright light. I couldn’t see absolutely nothing. I can hear myself praying, but at the same time speaking to myself as if God were speaking to me. And I was saying, “All I want from you Steph, is too just keep your eyes on Jesus and seek to do My will. That is all. I don’t even want you to be strong or fight just stay still.” And for a moment I felt peace.

We all face hard trials, disappointments, pain and loss. Its part of God’s plan. Its hard to understand why it is that God allows these things in our lives, but we can take comfort that its always for our good and its outcome is ALWAYS good.

In Romans chapter 5:3-5 Paul wrote, “We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials…”

I know what you might be thinking, “but why?” or “how?” “How in the world can it be possible for us to rejoice in trials!” “Trials don’t feel good!” “They tear us down!”

Trust me, that was my reaction too. But Paul gives us the reason why in the verses before:

Romans 5:1-2 says, “Therefore, since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us. Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of undeserved privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God’s glory.”

So, this is the reason why we can rejoice even threw trials: JESUS. Paul points us back to Jesus! Because of Jesus we have been saved. Because of Jesus we have received great things in our salvation. And he lists these great privileges we have:

I. “We have been made right in God’s sight by faith,”

II. “we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us”

III. “Christ has brought us into this place of undeserved privilege where we now stand”

IV. we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God’s glory.”

And in this list of heavenly blessings Paul also adds, “We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials” or in the NASB version it says, “And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations.”

So, in other words, the ability to overcome tribulations is also given to us in Jesus Christ. It is also a heavenly blessing given by God to every believer! Because Jesus overcame, we too can OVERCOME!

V. “we can rejoice in our tribulations”

Romans 5:3-5

“We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.”

Because ““We have been made right in God’s sight by faith,” we can trust that everything the Lord allows in our life is for our good. It is never to harm us. It's NOT out of condemnation nor wrath.

Trials, even though at the moment, they might not seem good nor helpful at all, they always help us produce fruit. We become stronger and more firm in the Lord. It is in these times where we can truly “taste and see that the Lord is good” Psalms 34:8

In 1 Peter, Peter wrote to the church during a time like ours. The persecution wasn’t in its fullest, but they were experiencing the beginning of it. Persecution was just around the corner. And he tells them, “So if you are suffering in a manner that pleases God, keep on doing what is right, and trust your lives to the God who created you, for he will never fail you.” 1 Peter 4:19

God is our creator. Who better to know our need than the One who created our being? God knows what we need. He’s aware of it. He ALWAYS supplies it. ALL OF IT. Especially our spiritual need. He knows the trials that will help us learn to trust Him, be patient, grow etc. Not only does He know what trials will help us but also how long we need to be in them.

Take heart because you have been made right before God through Jesus Christ. Know and believe that God is for you! He will never leave you! "He will never fail you." Trust that Jesus is our faithful Priest who understands.

Trust the Lord with all your feelings, disappointments, bitterness and weaknesses. Be completely open with Him. Because also, we need to learn how to have a correct perspective concerning our trials. If we think that God doesn’t know what He’s doing and we feel the need to “help Him”, we are going to completely miss the point of our testing (which is to draw us closer to God) and we are going to be “40 years in the wilderness” until we understand what God is doing.

Don’t let the trials in your life stray you away from God. Embrace them! Draw nearer to your Lord! He knows what He’s doing! Only in Him you can have peace.

The anxious nights I was facing didn’t go away until I concluded that I really didn’t trust God. And that I had to do something about it. It sounds simple, but boy was it hard. Especially because of my pride. I wanted to have some control of my life. At least a little part where I can say, “I did this”. But the Lord was asking of me, complete submission and trust. I must admit it took me a while and I’m still learning but God has helped me so much. And He will help you too.

Spend time with the Lord and His Word. Pray that He show you and help you truly believe that IN HIM YOU HAVE EVERY REASON TO OVERCOME.