There are times in everyone’s life that fear takes hold of us. The problems of life can overtake us so easily if our faith is not strong in the power and love of our God. Anyone can have moments of struggling with anxiety, low self-esteem, fear and a lack of faith.
When we feel like this we must “lift our eyes to the hills from which comes all our help” (Psalm 121:1.) Faith will give us the strength and hope to make it. Keep fighting and know we have the blessed assurance of our Awesome God and Father and Lord and Savior Jesus the Christ.
“We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed” (2 Corinthians 4:8-9.)
Running away from problems may at times seem to be the right solution to circumstances. But there are times when we are the cause of the problems. The battles within oneself daily are very real and present in everyone’s life.
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“For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do — this I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it” (Romans 7:19-21.)
Sometimes we are troubled because of disobedience. We know what’s right and how to perform what is good in the sight of God, but we just do not want to act accordingly.
We must gain a knowing of faith that “Ye are of God, His little children, and we already have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world” (1 John 4:4.)
Acknowledgment is a great place to start by recognizing who you are or not in life. The challenge of acknowledging our issues, sins, mistakes and pride is the first vital step in stopping the running that we all are very accustomed to in life.
David was a great man after God’s own heart but had to recognize his wrongs in life. “Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight; so, you are right in your verdict and justified when you judge” (Psalm 51:4.)
Sin is never unseen by the eyes of a holy God. Everything is exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account. Being truthful with ourselves about the inward battles we are fighting sometimes daily and even hourly will allow us to come to a place of acknowledgement. The place of acknowledgement will bring us to the choices of accountability and reasonability for lives and actions. We can be strong in Lord and in the power of His might, God can, will and shall do for us that which we cannot do for ourselves. We are given grace and mercy which each day on this journey called life.
We can have victory in life when we hold fast to our faith in Our Loving and Awesome God and Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and allow the Holy Spirit to lead and teach us along the journey called life. There should not be any amount of shame and/or condemnation because of the weaknesses we have in life.
However, we must take our weaknesses/sins before God the Father. “If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1 8-9 NIV.)
Studying the Word of God and seeking understanding to be able to exercise wisdom in all matters in life is vital to our growth and relationship across the board.
God knows us very well because He made us in His Image also. We are fearfully and wonderfully made. Everyone and Everything must be tested and tried in the fire. Even Our Lord Jesus Christ was led in the wilderness by the Spirit to be tested. The wilderness seasons and experiences humble us as we are brought face to face with our greatest weakness, fears and inadequacies. The Israelites made a 40-day’s journey into 40 years because of their unbelief, rebellion, and not seeing their true selves rather good or bad.
Recently, my grandmother went home to be with the Lord. As I reflect back to a conversation I once had with my grandmother I remember her saying “You cannot run from You!” God loves us no matter what season in life we are facing.
Go God Go.
Anthony Armstrong is senior pastor at Unity Christian Fellowship Church at Pine Bluff.
Editor’s note: Pastors, ministers or other writers interested in writing for this section may submit articles for consideration to shope@adgnewsroom.com. Writers should have ties to Southeast Arkansas. Please include your phone number and the name and location of your church or ministry.