The Good Fight of Faith

Today was the big day for candidates in the primary elections. Some walked away with a smile of victory, at the completion of what seems like a hideously long and drawn out campaign. Others weren't showing their pearly whites, but instead donned grimaces and other signs of weariness, in their defeat.

These faces made me think of the Apostle Paul, and how he exhorted us, as Christians, to fight the good fight of faith, and to not grow weary in well-doing. Paul, himself, spoke of his own fight, and how he had kept the faith. We can only benefit from his example.

We all have "fights" that we endure. Whether they be literal disagreements with family and friends, the surprise bumps in the road that throw us off-course at times, or the spiritual snares that satan seeks to entrap us with... we all have our daily battles. (If you don't have one today, you've either just come through one, or you're getting ready to go into one.) It's a part of life... ESPECIALLY for the Christian! Though we obtain joy, hope, and peace in our life at salvation, we can expect to have our world turned upside down every so often! The question is, "How do we handle it, when it comes?"

Again, we can look at the life of the Apostle Paul, and learn from "the expert in trials and tribulations". Here, we see a man who, at one time received 39 stripes; was beaten 3 times with rods; was stoned once; was shipwrecked 3 times; spent a night and a day on the open sea (without a boat). In his journeys, he faced danger from floods; from robbers; from his own countrymen; from the heathen; in the city; in the wilderness; at sea; among false brethren...... despite his own weariness and pain; his hunger and thirst; his regular fasting; his cold and nakedness. And to top everything else, he still bore the burdens of all the churches (daily). I'd say we could learn ALOT from our dear brother, Paul!

I get convicted, just reading about all that he endured for the sake of the gospel. This same man who once persecuted believers... what a great man of God he became!!!

I share all of that to say this..... there are times when we feel like we're up against the whole world. There's "wrong" all throughout the camp; We're tired and battle-scarred from the many fires we fight daily; "Fairness" seems to be just a delusion; And just when we think it can't get any worse, the other shoe drops (Add another impending heart attack).

BUT...

We don't have to live in bondage to our battles. We don't have to make ourselves sick with worry, over the problems we face. We have the glorious opportunity (privilege) of going boldly unto the throne of grace. We can take all of our cares, and all of our petitions to Christ, and leave them there with Him. We know that He works all things for our good, so no matter how "crazy" and "unfair" life is, at times, we know that the end result will be in our best interest. That's NOT to say things will always line up perfectly with OUR will... He never promised us that. But whatever HIS WILL is, we can trust that it will be for our good.

I think about the elections yesterday, and also the presidential election coming up in about 5 months... it may turn out that "right" doesn't win... that "wrong" is exalted and applauded (it happens everyday). But regardless, if our hope and trust is in Jesus, we don't have to worry about it. We just need to keep our eyes focused on Him, and remember that HE is the One in control... no matter what the enemy would have us believe.

And the same is true in our other battles, as well. It does us absolutely no good whatsoever to kick and fuss, nor throw an old-fashioned hissy fit. In fact, it's been proven that when we do that, we only end up making things worse! So ultimately, it all boils down to our trusting the Lord to handle everything according to HIS perfect Will.

If there's anything troubling you, I pray you'll give it to the Lord... and let Him keep it. It's not His Will for you to be troubled (nor to be someone else's stumbling block). His desire is for each of us to be free from the bondage of anything and everything that isn't of Him. That's when we can truly have the smile of victory! Anything else is just counterfeit.

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