Thursday, September 29, 2011

Opposition

I want to post some words of encouragement for anyone who is doing what God has lead them to do and facing any level of opposition. Ever since my husband and I got engaged and really started getting into what God is planning for us, we have faced a lot of opposition when we have things that we are trying to do. This was our first week of our church eGroup (our church's name for a small group, for those who do not attend Elevation), and we were still in the process of moving all week. After some setbacks with vehicles (camry severely needing a wheel bearing replaced, a punctured tire on the Mazda, and a van we borrowed dying in our driveway) I got very easily frustrated and upset.

Today, I had taken the Camry in for the repair. I received bad news about three hours later, when I finally checked my voicemail on my cell phone and found out that there was more repair work that needed to be done, and it just about doubled the cost. I just closed my office door for privacy, got on my knees, and cried to God that I just didn't have that money. I've been promising myself my entire life (ok...since high school when I was in a financial class) that I was not going to live paycheck to paycheck, but these unexpected expenses are leading me down that road. I have a person at work that as soon as something goes wrong, I go to them and start to complain about what's happened, so I can receive some sympathy. I am praying for God to help me on this, to lead me to always turn to Jesus and then stop there. We are currently in a series at church on Hebrews 12, and Hebrews 12:2 says "Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith".  I need to remember to focus on Jesus, especially when faced with problems that life brings.

While some things that happen can be direct hurdles in the way of we are trying to do for God (such as us moving into the house in time to start our small group, without beind frantic), the devil may not always seem to be obviously trying to stop you...he just wants you to become discouraged, aggravated, and impatient, therefore making you less effective for God. Don't give him that victory.

I will close with this: a magazine we just received had an excerpt from Pastor Steven Furtick's blog, and this is what it said, "The circumstances, struggles and attacks you face are not the ultimate determining factor of the kind of life you live. How you use them is. And there isn't a single situation in your life that can't be used for your good and God's glory."