What do you do, how do you cope, when the problem is bigger than you?
By Dean Collins
If you have lived very long, you have experienced that moment when you realize you are facing a problem, maybe even an enemy, that is more than you can handle or defeat. Saying yes to God doesn’t necessarily prevent these moments. In fact, Jesus said just the opposite in John 16:33: “In this world you will have tribulation.”
We just celebrated the biggest victory in human history, the resurrection of Jesus. So why talk of difficulties, obstacles, and enemies? Can’t we just stay in victory lane for a minute? Of course we can. The resurrection is our source of hope, of strength, and the assurance of our final victory over death. But we must remember that Jesus spoke of many things we would face after his death, burial, and resurrection, and one of the big topics was the assurance of his presence in the middle of and through our hardest moments. The long discussion Jesus had with his disciples in John chapters 13,14,15,16, and 17 says much about the challenges and how we can overcome them.
First the war, then the promise
Just before the Israelites would enter the Promised Land they had long awaited, Moses gave a similar warning to the 12 tribes. In chapter 20 he gave important instructions about things to come. Before God’s people would enjoy their freedom and taste the long-awaited milk-and-honey comfort of their new home, they would first be involved in war. And more than once.
The land that was promised to Abraham centuries later was occupied. Moses gave very specific instructions and reminders of the role of God and the role of the Israelites when it came to the battles ahead. The very first instruction from Moses was not to let the size of the enemy or their advanced technology and equipment scare them. I suspect our ancient ancestors of faith were in fact afraid just as you and I often are!
God’s chosen people were right on the verge of success. They could see the Promised Land they had been promised, but between them and victory there were chariots, horses, and well-equipped soldiers. The enemy they would face was bigger, stronger, and better equipped for battle. Yet they were told not to let their heart fear or faint.
Lessons for our battles
In Deuteronomy 20 we can learn several important details that can help us in the battles we will face in the days ahead. Here is the quick takeaway:
1) God’s beloved children then and now face challenges.
2) We are told not to fear our opposition because God is with us.
3) Before you go into battle—whether a fight with an enemy or a big problem—you must pray. In Deuteronomy, Moses told the priest to go in front of the army speaking words of assurance: “Do not fear or panic or be in dread of them, for the Lord your God is he who goes with you to fight against your enemies, to give you the victory.”
4) Not everyone must fight all the time. In the case of the Israelites, several categories of people were told to stay back: newlyweds, those in the middle of building a home, or those who had recently planted a vineyard. Those too afraid to fight were released from duty, too.
5) Even with a much smaller army and after the exemptions, the Israelites were assured that God would bring them victory.
That was then. What about now?
Jesus left important instructions for his followers during the last days before his crucifixion. As Moses told the Israelites, Jesus told his followers that we would face challenges. But he quickly followed with this: ”But take heart; I have overcome the world.” This is the very important message of the resurrection. Jesus went before us and conquered sin and death. Because of his victory, we too are assured of victory over these giant obstacles. Just as we will eventually die, we will also eventually live fully resurrected lives with Jesus. Knowing that gives us hope and courage to face the battles in this world.
God is for us!
Paul reinforces this confidence with a series of questions he posed:
“What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword?”
Paul knew hardships, persecution, false charges, and more. And he closed his comments on facing enemies and big problems with these words:
“No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Standing on the promises
I don’t know your situation. I know I am facing challenges, and I suspect some of you might be as well. So I encourage you as I encourage myself to stand on the promises of God that came to us from Moses, from Paul, and from Jesus. Jesus has gone before us to prepare our path forward. He has filled us with his Spirit to guide us and to bring us to victory.
Lord, we confess that even after celebrating your resurrection, we allow our current challenges to beat us down and make us afraid. We surrender all fear to you today. We surrender the problems that are in fact bigger than we are. We place them in your hands as the one who will bring resurrection power into our situation. Fill us with your peace as we press forward filled with your love to do the work you have called us to do. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Your time with God’s Word
Deuteronomy 20:1-9; John 16:33; Romans 8:31 ESV
Photo by Mahdi Bafande on Unsplash
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