9 Truths for All Circumstances

As we continue our fight of faith, I want to leave you with a few biblical truths and encouragements to cling to in the midst of all circumstances.

1. The odds are always against us when God asks us to do something. But remember, there was a time when there were 15,000 hungry people (5,000 men plus women and children) and only five bread loaves, two small fish, and the “Jesus Factor” to feed them (Matthew 14:13-21). God can overcome the odds.
2. When God asks you to do something, He intends to get involved because He has promised to be with you (Matthew 18:20). Do what you can do and trust God to do the impossible.
3. Don’t let what you can’t do stop you from doing what you can do. What is required of us is faithfulness (1 Corinthians 4:2)
4. It’s OK, even encouraged, to obey and fail. I would personally rather obey and fail than to have not obeyed. What if Goliath had defeated David? God would have still been honored by David, and David would still be greatly rewarded by God. “‘Those who honor me I will honor (1 Samuel 2:30),’” says the Lord.
5. If we don’t obey, God will just raise up someone else (Esther 4:14). We will miss what God intended for us to do. Esther didn’t know if she would live or die, but she obeyed God and honored Him. She was clearly prepared to die when she said, “‘And if I perish, I perish (Esther 4:16).’” The goal isn’t success. The goal is obedience to what God asks.
6. The greatest consequence to disobedience is never getting to see what God would have done through you.
7. Fears will be your biggest enemy to a life of faith and obedience. A few of your fears may be:
   • Fear of failure that leads to “What if?” questions.
   • Fears of inadequacy that lead to thoughts about “If only.”
   • Fears of losing control that lead to “I can’t handle it.”
   • Fears of losing something that makes you happy instead of being content that Jesus plus nothing equals everything.
8. The author of Hebrews defines faith as the “confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see (Hebrews 11:1).” Faith is taking risks in the direction of your hope. “Therefore, since we have such a hope, we are very bold (2 Corinthians 3:12).”
9. Obey and embrace whatever comes with these words from Paul in mind: “I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death (Philippians 1:20).”

My hope for you and me this year is that we will live in such a way that shows we would rather have the word “failure” on our tombstone than the word “disobedient.”

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