Now that the holidays are approaching, instead of anticipating our family traditions with expectation, I find myself wondering how we’ll find the time to fit them in. I mean, pumpkin picking this year was me at the roadside stand texting pictures of potential squash to my kids at school because we couldn’t find a time we all could make it to the patch. Halloween is a short-lived deal. What in the world is it going to look like when holiday mayhem descends? Life is barrelling along and some days I’m not sure if I’m directing the show, or being run over by a freight train.
Some seasons are that way.
The thing is to remember that they’re just a season. These challenges are temporary and won’t last forever. We can take courage from the fact that Jesus rose from the dead on the third day. His suffering had a definite start and a definite end and yours does too.
Hebrews says, “Endure hardship as discipline. For in your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding blood” (12:1). Endure hardship as training for the marathon that is your life. Bear up under it because it will shape you.
We’re struggling to gain forward momentum in a world wants to stop us in our tracks. Any step is going to require a concerted effort on our part. Too often when the world wears me down I just want to give in. It’s too hard. It’s too much. I can’t do any more. I can’t take one.more.thing. But what kind of a fight is that? It’s no resistance at all.
My determination to persist in the face of hard things is a direct reflection of my commitment to Christ. He said that if I’m truly following Him and His example, I shouldn’t be surprised when it’s difficult (John 15:18). Satan is a ruthless enemy, a roaring lion looking for weak prey, a thief sneaking around in the night to take what doesn’t belong to him (1 Peter 5:8, John 10:10).
He’s an adversary who can fight, but cannot conquer. He’s a big talker, but an empty threat. The Lord promises if we resist the enemy, he will turn tail and run (James 4:7). The power that already defeated him is within us (Romans 8:11). Christ’s victory is our victory (Romans 8:37). We’re not in this fight alone.
There is a time of evil, a day of trouble, a season of struggle, but it is never the whole story. When the enemy comes against me, I don’t have to surrender to the spirit of fear. I don’t have to give in without a fight. God has promised that “every child of [His] defeats this evil world by trusting Christ to give the victory” (1 John 5:4).
Use every piece of God’s armor to resist the enemy in the time of evil, so that after the battle you will still be standing firm. Ephesians 6:13, emphasis added
Yes I don’t have to give in without a fight.