Life constantly challenges us. Pressures, conflict, finances, health, parenting, work; the list goes on and on. There is always a fight. Though we can’t escape the challenges of life, I believe we can do better in how we respond. Instead of laying down, avoiding, playing the victim, or fighting back; I encourage you to consider these 3 tips to allow you to overcome challenges & attacks. We must rely on wisdom and discernment from God, and allow Him to guide us through.
Overcome Challenges & Attacks: 3 Tips
1. Seek God.
This is the most important. It is when we seek God that we are changed and are offered a better perspective. God allows us to see our challenges through the spiritual lens and not the fleshly lens. Do you ever consider the fact that we have a limited, faulty, selfish, sinful lens through which we see things?
“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.”
– Isaiah 55:8-9
God offers us a better way to overcome challenges.
Left to ourselves, we will see the wrong thing as right and the right thing as wrong. We will distort, deceive, and lead ourselves astray- if we are left to our own understanding. Proverbs 3:5-6 instructs us to:
“Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.”
We cannot trust ourselves- especially in times of testing.
Additionally, we can never lose sight of the fact that we have an enemy who works at the root. He knows our vulnerabilities, our weaknesses, our tendencies. Just like any enemy, though he is the ultimate enemy, he aims to hit us where it hurts.
He constantly attacks and creates ideal circumstances for us to fall. John 10:10 tells us that he comes to steal, kill, and destroy; and he is extremely crafty in his attacks- often creating the scene, leaving us to ourselves, and then allowing us to self-destruct.
This is why we must seek God above all.
Not only does He protect us, but He so perfectly and sovereignly orchestrates and navigates us through everything that we face- especially during our times of testing. As we seek Him, we position ourselves to see the way out that He always provides when we are tempted [I Corinthians 10:13].
2. Be Still & Know.
After seeking God, and as we continually seek God, we must be still & know. This requires such patience and maturity. Did I mention faith? As we seek God, He begins to speak to us and show us the situation through His lens.
This takes time.
As we wait on Him to show us and navigate us, we must be still & know. When tested, we must avoid being hasty to move, speak, or act. Often, our emotions are on high when we are challenged, and we want to avoid moving based on our emotions. This goes back to Satan’s aim. He desires us to move based on how we feel or what we see; yet, we know that we ought to walk by faith and depend on what we cannot see.
We walk by faith, not by sight [II Corinthians 5:7].
Again, this takes time. We must wait on God and accept that our relief may not be immediate. It also requires such patience, faith, and maturity. We must depend on God and not ourselves.
Have you ever seen a boxing match where one fighter allowed the other to wear themselves out? This is strategy. They allow the opponent to give their best shot, while strategically navigating their attempts, so that they can come back for the win.
Life is sometimes like this. We cannot stop what others do, and maturity allows us to not even attempt to. As we grow, we learn to allow situations to run their course. In weakness and immaturity, we fight back, try to control, or even avenge ourselves; but in maturity and strength we submit ourselves to God, the perfect judge, knowing that He will judge, avenge, bless, and protect, as He sees fit.
I’m reminded of I Peter 2:15:
“For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men:”
Once again, this requires growth and humility on our part, as we must trust Him, in the midst of our various afflictions and persecutions- knowing that He sees all and vengeance is His [Romans 12:19]. Vengeance is His; not ours.
Sometimes overcoming challenges will just require us to do well; not fight back.
3. Grow.
A sure way to navigate through challenges and trials is to focus on growth. It is quite easy to play the victim or even be on the attack; yet, neither are the right response. Ephesians 6:12 advises us:
“For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.”
So, no matter how personal it feels, it’s not personal. It’s all spiritual.
I am always so humbled, amazed, convicted and encouraged by Christ’s response to those who crucified Him. There was no response of anger, judgment, or any lashing out. Instead, He forgave them and prayed for them- right in the midst of the persecution.
Wow. What an example.
Christ’s response to hate was forgiveness. His response to lashes, was love. He shows us that it can be done.
Through Him, we can overcome any challenge we face. Through Him, we can love, in spite of. Through Him, we can see the spiritual and not take it personal- even if it is; because it’s really not personal. It’s all spiritual. We just have to focus on passing the test.
“These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.”
– John 16:33
My prayer is that whatever challenge(s) you are facing, that you:
- Seek God.
- Be Still & Know.
- Grow.
As we stay mindful of these 3 tips, I am certain that we will overcome our challenges in a way that allows us to grow and God to get the glory!
With love,
Read Why Do We Fight?
