What happens when you're doing what God asks of you, and all hell breaks loose? Because when life happens, unexpectedly, it can knock us off our feet. And sometimes, we think that the resistance means that we are headed in the wrong direction. We second guess if we were ever on the right path to begin with. And we contemplate if we should turn to where the path feels easier, to where the road is smoother.
But I want to submit to you that this resistance is actually evidence of the calling that God has on your life.
The enemy never seeks to steal, kill, and destroy the lives of those that aren’t a threat to him. He only goes after those that he fears will be used by God, or those that are working to further the Kingdom of God in the earth.
When I think about the trials that we face, as a result of following God, the first person to come to mind is Job. I’m sure you’ve either read, or heard, about his story, but I think it’s worth mentioning here.
The bible tells us that Job “…was blameless—a man of complete integrity. He feared God and stayed away from evil.” (Job 1:1 NLT) He was a blessed man. He had seven sons, and three daughters. He even had thousands of sheep and camels, and hundreds of oxen and donkeys. He was the richest person in their entire land. This was a man that was favored by God.
The book of Job tells us that the members of the heavenly court came to present themselves to God, and Satan was among them.
“Where have you come from?” the Lord asked Satan. Satan answered the Lord, “I have been patrolling the earth, watching everything that’s going on.” Then the Lord asked Satan, “Have you noticed my servant Job? He is the finest man in all the earth. He is blameless—a man of complete integrity. He fears God and stays away from evil.” Satan replied to the Lord, “Yes, but Job has good reason to fear God. You have always put a wall of protection around him and his home and his property. You have made him prosper in everything he does. Look how rich he is! But reach out and take away everything he has, and he will surely curse you to your face!” (Job 1:7-11 NLT)
I want to point out what God said about Job. He said that Job was the “… finest man in all the earth. He is blameless—a man of complete integrity. He fears God and stays away from evil.” And notice, that this is precisely the reason that Satan desired to go after Job. Satan knew that Job was favored by God, and he knew about Job’s faithfulness. But, he wanted the chance to stop Job from worshiping God. Satan believed that if God’s protection and blessings were removed from Job’s life, that he would turn his back on God. Satan accused Job of only worshiping God because of the benefits. And I also want you to recognize that Satan had no authority to attack Job, because God is sovereign over all. Satan had to get God’s permission. And God even gave Satan parameters.
“All right, you may test him,” the Lord said to Satan. “Do whatever you want with everything he possesses, but don’t harm him physically.” So Satan left the Lord’s presence. (Job 1:12 NLT)
I want us to notice that God called Satan’s attack on Job a test. God’s purpose in allowing this was to prove Job’s faithfulness to His Kingdom. And Job passed the test. Satan killed all of Job's children, robbed him of all his livestock, and killed his servants. Yet, Job did not curse God.
In all of this, Job did not sin by blaming God. (Job 1:22 NLT)
And this angered Satan. So much so, that he asked for permission to test Job a second time.
Satan replied to the Lord, “Skin for skin! A man will give up everything he has to save his life. But reach out and take away his health, and he will surely curse you to your face!” “All right, do with him as you please,” the Lord said to Satan. “But spare his life.” So Satan left the Lord’s presence, and he struck Job with terrible boils from head to foot. (Job 2:4-7 NLT)
Job was in complete agony as he was tormented. Not knowing that this was a test, he believed that his life would end in turmoil. And his friends accused him of sin. They believed that Job’s refusal to repent, was the cause of his misery. But Job held tightly to defending himself against their accusations. He continually stated that he was innocent; but, he still could not understand why God would allow him to suffer in this way. The story of Job is extensive. He speaks of his pain, and questions God’s intentions; but, He never questions God’s goodness. He tells his friends that he still has an advocate in heaven. He states his faith, knowing that his Redeemer lives. And he calls on God to defend him against his friends that accuse him.
“Even now my witness is in heaven. My advocate is there on high.” (Job 16:19 NLT)
“But as for me, I know that my Redeemer lives, and he will stand upon the earth at last.” (Job 19:25 NLT)
“You must defend my innocence, O God, since no one else will stand up for me.” (Job 17:3 NLT)
Reading this story, I am amazed by Job. If we look at the story farsighted, it seems that Job has lost his faith in God. He tells of how much he is tormented, and that relief is absent. He even asks God why he was ever born in the first place. But when we dig deep into his story, we see a man that is living in unbearable pain, yet, he refused to turn his face from God. Job was completely submitted to God, trusting Him through it all. Job worshiped God for who He is, not for what He could give him.
And, although Job suffered the most excruciating pain of his life, deep down, he reasoned that his suffering could be a test. So Job stayed firm in his resolved about God. He was determined to be proven a faithful servant.
“But he knows where I am going. And when he tests me, I will come out as pure as gold. For I have stayed on God’s paths; I have followed his ways and not turned aside. I have not departed from his commands, but have treasured his words more than daily food. (Job 23:10-12 NLT)
When we are on assignment from God, there will be trials. We will be tested.
And I think that the problem is that we usually think that when we are walking with God, our lives will be smooth sailing. But, God does not promise us that no weapon will form against us. He promises us that no weapon formed against us will prosper, and He promises us that our accusers will be condemned.
No weapon formed against you shall prosper, And every tongue which rises against you in judgment You shall condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, And their righteousness is from Me,” Says the Lord. (Isaiah 54:17 NKJV)
Even Jesus told us that we would face many trials in our lives. He tells us that there will be resistance in this world. But, He also tells us that He has already defeated any resistance that we will ever face.
I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33 NLT)
He says that in the midst of all the trials, we should have peace in Him. We should live our lives from the victory that He has already won. We should be able to rest, knowing that God has given Him all authority.
We have been given all authority over the enemy through our faith in Jesus Christ.
So what does this mean for us?
This means that although we face many trials, we have the power to live victoriously. We are victorious, but if we don't walk in that victory, we will never experience the fruit of it in our lives.
Jesus put the manifestation of this victory in our hands.
For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says. (Mark 11:23 NKJV)
This is interesting! Because, while God fights our battles, we must do our part. God will not do all the work for us. Jesus says that those that speak to the mountains in their lives, will see those mountains cast out. Notice that He does not say, whoever thinks. He says, “whoever says.” Remember that the power of life and death is in the tongue. So we must speak to the mountains, and cast them out of our lives.
What mountains are Jesus taking about?
He's talking about anything that stands in the way of God’s perfect plan for our lives, and anything that seeks to prevent the blessings of God from manifesting in our lives. He’s talking about sickness and disease. He’s talking about marital and family strife, financial burden, wrong mindsets, and anything else that might be ailing us.
The battle is God’s, not yours. You are a participant.
As we speak to the mountains in our lives, God works on our behalf. He reaches down from heaven and rescues us. He redeems the lost time, and restores the things that we have lost.
I will exalt you, Lord, for you rescued me. You refused to let my enemies triumph over me. O Lord my God, I cried to you for help, and you restored my health. You brought me up from the grave, O Lord. You kept me from falling into the pit of death. Sing to the Lord, all you godly ones! Praise his holy name. For his anger lasts only a moment, but his favor lasts a lifetime! Weeping may last through the night, but joy comes with the morning. (Psalms 30:1-5 NLT)
The trials in your life have an expiration date. Joy comes in the morning.
God will intervene on your behalf, when you cry out to Him. In the case of Job, God heard his cry, and rescued him. Job was proven to be innocent in the face of his accusers. He was healed, and God blessed him with double of his lost possessions. God even gave Job seven more sons, and three more daughters.
So the Lord blessed Job in the second half of his life even more than in the beginning…(Job 42:12 NLT)
Don’t forget all of His benefits. Not only are we blessed when we stand on who He is, but we get the benefit of knowing Him.
Through the trials, we get a glimpse of His sovereignty and greatness.
Listen to what Job said to God in the end.
I had only heard about you before, but now I have seen you with my own eyes. (Job 42:5 NLT)
Job is saying that through his trials, he actually got a chance to experience God greatness. It’s one thing to hear about God, but it's another thing to experience His power personally.
We can’t fathom everything that Job endured, but we’ve all faced times when we felt like we were being hit over and over by the trials of life. Like Job, we must remember who our God is. And we must remember that the darkest hour is just before dawn. Those times when we feel like we can’t go much longer, His grace kicks in and keeps us from slipping. He rescues us. He wipes the tears from our eyes. He promises to restore His blessings and joy to us.
Those who plant in tears will harvest with shouts of joy. (Psalms 126:5 NLT)
Take a second to reflect on your life. Have you been in the place where you’ve felt like the walls were closing in on you? Are you there now? I want to encourage you that your Redeemer lives, and He’s going to use every test and trial for His glory. He’s going to turn all of your weaknesses into strengths, so that they can be used by Him. Don’t give up. Never give in. Keep serving Him. Keep declaring His promises over your life. Don’t forget that you have the power to move mountains through Jesus Christ. And He has already won the victory.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, thank you for being my defender; You are the one that lifts me up. I know that you have marvelous plans for me and my family, and I desire to see everything that you have in store for us. Right now I speak to the mountains in my life (name the mountains…brokenness, fear, sickness etc.) and I cast them into the sea. I say to those mountains that you have no authority to be in my life because all authority has been given to Christ Jesus, and He has already won the victory for me. Thank you Father, that as I pray, you have already sent the answers of restoration, redemption and healing. Your are my victory. I put my hope in You. In Jesus’ name, amen.
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