Why We Don’t Lose Hope in the Battle

They used to shine–his eyes. Now, red-rimmed and dull, they peer at the world from beneath a furrowed brow. The sparkle is gone and I lie awake pouring out words of supplication for this one that I love.

Help him in his weariness, Lord.

The Israelites had grown weary, too. Weary of trials. Weary of wilderness living. Weary of waiting for God’s promises to be fulfilled. After all, they’d been boxed into the desert place for forty years. Forty years of prayer, worship, and hardship.

Wilderness wandering has a way of eroding hope.

Have you journeyed through the wilderness? Are you there now? Could it be that you are wondering if God will ever respond to your cries for help and deliver you to the other side of the hard place in which you’ve been living?

Oftentimes, the edge of the wilderness is our testing ground. #hopeinthewilderness #heisourhope Click To Tweet

Friend, let me encourage you. Not only is God with you in the wilderness, but He exhorts us not to give up hope as we battle our way to the other side. Oftentimes, the edge of the wilderness is our testing ground. It is that figurative place in our faith where we press through the weariness to the promises of God knowing that He is trustworthy. That He is with us. That He will never leave us or forsake us.

What Does the Bible Say About Not Being Afraid?

Just before God’s people stepped out of the wasteland and into their inheritance, God exhorted them with these words:

When you are about to go into battle, the priest shall come forward and address the army.  He shall say: “Hear, Israel: Today you are going into battle against your enemies. Do not be fainthearted or afraid; do not panic or be terrified by them. For the Lord your God is the one who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies to give you victory.” (Deuteronomy 20:2-4)

Did you notice the first statement? Hear, Israel: Today you are going into battle against your enemies. These words weren’t intended to declare the obvious. Instead, these were a rallying cry. A proclamation emboldening God’s people to hold the line.

While we may not be standing knee to knee against our foes, you and I will face enemies. They might be called by names like Mental Illness, Addiction, Unfaithfulness, or Disease. Others go by titles such as Fear, Financial Distress, or Loss of a Loved One.

These enemies rise large on the horizon like giants inhabiting the Promised Land, but like the Israelites we are called to stand fast. #standfast #giantsinthePromisedLand Click To Tweet

These enemies rise large on the horizon like giants inhabiting the Promised Land, but like the Israelites we are called to stand fast. To continue regardless of the circumstances. To put on hope and cast of fear.

Why? Because the God of all creation is fighting on our behalf and He has already ensured us a victory. A holy victory that was established in eternity past.

 

How Does the Promise of Victory Keep Us From Losing Hope?

Each day his back bends in prayer before the sun rises. I hear the muffled sighs from the other room. But today, I notice something different as we exchange the customary morning greeting–the smile reaches his eyes.

The apostle Paul understood the struggle to persevere. He experienced imprisonment, stoning, and shipwrecks. None of these overcame his faith.

Romans 8:35 and 37 read,

“Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.” (NIV)

More than conquerors. In the Greek, this phrase means “over-victorious”. You and I are already “over-victorious” because our true and lasting joy is embodied in Christ.

Until we reach the other side of heaven, we can live with hope because no matter the battles we face, He is our inheritance Click To Tweet.

If you’ve grown weary of your skirmishes with the enemy, remember He is your battle partner. You aren’t in this alone.

Scripture for Reflection

• “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.” (Romans 8:35-37 NIV)
• “Israel, put your hope in the Lord, for with the Lord is unfailing love and with him is full redemption.” (Psalm 130:7 NKJV)

Action Step

For the next seven days, recite Romans 8:35-37 but replace the pronouns “us” and “we” with your name.

 

Peace and grace,

Tammy

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