The Fight of Faith

“God is a mean kid sitting on an anthill with a magnifying glass, and I am an ant.He could fix my life in minutes if he wanted to but he’d rather burn up my feelers and watch me squirm!” – Bruce Almighty

It’s so easy to take on this attitude. The feeling that God is out to get us or is not on our side. That he’s punishing us for no reason. It’s that all too familiar question, why do bad things happen to good people?

Lately I’ve been going to bed feeling like I just got the crap beat out of me. In these last few weeks I have been completely and totally pushed to my limits; financially, physically, mentally and emotionally. I can only think of one thing that has gotten me through– faith.  Faith, that I will overcome these hard times. Faith, that God is in control even in the chaos. Faith, that I can do all things through Christ. Faith, that I can win this fight.

No one ever said this life would be easy, in fact the Bible is pretty clear that the life of a Christ-follower is going to be pretty difficult. Just when you think you’ve got it all together and the pieces are perfectly falling into place, an earthquake is likely cause your perfect set-up to go tumbling about. The more we seek God-- the more good we do in our lives, the more the enemy will push for a negative response. The more we will be pressed to prove that’s really who we are. It’s not God turning against you, it’s the world trying to defeat you; trying to prove you don’t really have the faith you think you do.

So here’s a new question for you, how do good people respond when bad things happen?

Response. That’s what it's all about. When life keeps throwing blow after blow and I’m just about to get knocked out; instead of tapping out, I respond differently. I glance behind me and just beyond the ropes, I see Him cheering me on. He’s screaming at the top of His lungs, “Don’t stop now! You can do this, remember what I’ve taught you!”

See faith causes us to fight back. Hope and faith are the one-two combo that cannot be beat. When we respond in faith to the beatings of this life, we cannot be defeated. Faith is so much bigger than the strife of the world. Yes, it’s tough and there are times we’re not sure how much more we can take but we have to rely on what we know—God is with us.

Doubt and fear are what beat us down the most. It’s the jab and uppercut the enemy uses to break us down, to try and defeat us before the fight is over. Don’t do it. Don’t let him win. You know how to block those shots.

Believe in yourself. God hasn’t created in you a spirit of fear but of sound mind. You are solid. Have confidence in your ability to defend yourself.  Hard times are nothing but a test of our response. When we respond to life’s difficulties with fear, doubt and trembling, of course we will be defeated. But when we decide to use the faith and hope  given by God, we have the ability to win the fight.  It’s just a test of faith. Will you allow the enemy to get the knockout or will you fight back and refuse to be beat?

Your response determines the strength of your faith.

Are you strong enough to win the fight?