Deuteronomy 7:17-19 – You may say to yourselves, “These nations are stronger than we are. How can we drive them out?” But do not be afraid of them; remember well what the Lord your God did to Pharaoh and to all Egypt…The Lord your God will do the same to all the peoples you now fear.

The longer I live, the more I realize that it is inevitable. No matter how good your intentions, no matter how noble your cause, no matter how committed your soul there will be a moment when you doubt. There will be a moment when you doubt yourself, there will be a moment when you doubt your ability, and if we’re honest there may be a moment when you doubt God.  

We think we’re ready, we think we’re prepared, but nothing prepares you for that first hit. Nothing prepares you for the punch you didn’t see coming that causes you to doubt why you stepped in the ring in the first place.

Helmuth von Moltke once said “No battle plan survives contact with the enemy.” We approach the end of January having been determined to be made new. Many of us have heard from God and He’s shown us those old things we need to move on from. Many of us have listened to the Spirit and new things we need to walk into have been revealed.

Scientists believe that when we become stressed or afraid our body activates what is known as the “fight or flight” response. The body shifts all its energy to either fighting off a life threat, or fleeing from an enemy. There are times in life where running from your enemy is a good idea. However, for Christians determined to be made new, when that inevitable counterattack comes from the enemy, letting those spirits chase us away from growing, from serving God more, from blessing people is not just flight. It’s failure.

We have to remember that we must not only let God work IN us, we must also let him work FOR us. Those things in your life that God has ordained, He will also see to completion if we don’t give up. The people in the Bible and in our present day who have achieved great things in the Kingdom are those who took that first hit and pressed forward anyway. The obstacles we face are nothing to our God. We need only remember what the Lord our God did to Pharaoh and to all of Egypt and realize that the enemy we face now does not stand a chance.

Father God in those moments of pain and doubt, when we feel like we don’t have the strength or the ability, let us never forget that you are with us. Lord God help us to never forget that the battle is yours and you are always victorious.

By: Rev. Jerry Wilson