Conquering the Circumstances
Many passages in Scripture assure us God will not allow life’s circumstances to overwhelm us. Levels of anxiety and fear often rise to unbelief, disillusionment and cynicism. Yet, God never leaves nor forsakes us. In every challenge, His abiding love and sustaining presence empower us to defeat threatening situations. Moreover, He transforms our dilemmas into tests. I comment briefly on several verses that contain promises of victorious living. I encourage you to commit these passages to memory; recite them as your daily meditation and affirmation.
“In all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.” (Romans 8:37) What a relief to know that God guarantees our victory regardless of the conditions! This verse reaffirms Christ’s infinite love for us. His atoning sacrifice and redemptive consideration of humankind ensures we triumph over all adversity. Christ conquered the evil of the cross. His victory empowers us to crush the daily difficulties. In everything, Christ’s unfathomable love sanctions our conquest.
The prophet, Isaiah, comforts the people in the midst of exile with a picturesque reminder of God’s compassion. He says, “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.” (Isaiah 43:2) What a wonderful image of the comforting presence of Almighty God! We marvel at God’s amazing grace which simply will not allow situations in life to overtake us. God promises, “I will be with you.” His enduring faithfulness enables us to meet the constant changes of life with confidence that yields victory in every instance. Come what may, we can unquestionably rely upon the grace and truth of God. Therefore, we do not lose our heads in the throes of challenges.
There are times when the intensity of our circumstances prevents us from seeing God’s “good, pleasing and perfect will” in our affairs. In fact, we may fall for the temptation of believing that He abandons us to depths of despair. Isaiah again depicts a compelling image of God’s care. “I will lead the blind by ways they have not known, along unfamiliar paths I will guide them; I will turn the darkness into light before them and make the rough places smooth. These are things I will do; I will not forsake them.” (Isaiah 42:16) Truly, God’s grace is wonderful and amazing! He changes the details of our lives into tools of learning. He utilizes our hardships to teach us about His character and love. Furthermore, God uses our ordeals to build His character within us. In so doing, He demolishes the fallacy that He abandons us and reveals His mysterious interworking within our lives. Similarly, Isaiah assures us that the Lord will send the dawn of a new and brilliant day!
The waters of life and flames of circumstance engulf us when we lose sight of the Lord. Matthew 14:22-36 records the story, “Jesus Walks on the Water.” The disciples are on a boat in the lake during the fourth watch of the night. The period between 3:00 am and 6:00 am is the darkest and coldest part of the night. Imagine the waves fiercely pounding the boat. The temperature of the lake definitely chilled their bodies. Yet, Jesus appears when death seems near. He encourages them with the greeting, “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.” Likewise, God appears mysteriously, miraculously and majestically in our dilemmas. He sustains us with the power of His presence.
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