Caught In The Crossfire

What’s got your mind, emotions, and focus caught up in? For most of us we have a lot going on in our lives that even some of our closest friends or family don’t even know about. On a regular basis we have a lot to deal with, a lot to think about, a lot to pray about, and a lot to untangle just to function in our day to day lives. Some of these things remain tightly sealed and are often unbearable. And so, we continue our daily lives without really dealing with the thing that has us going in circles.

Some of you are in a place where faith in the Father has been something you’ve unsubscribed to. God has promised you something, but adversity has told you something else. God says He is with you, but you are feeling something else. God says “watch what I do,” but you are seeing something else.

Don’t get caught in between the crossfire of God’s Word, and what you are experiencing!

It’s a dangerous place to dwell, as it is often filled with self-pity, doubt, distraction, disappointment, anger, bitterness and a host of other negative calamities that do not belong in your life.

So what do we do when doubt has got our grip?

To start, what we experience plays a vital role on how we view God the Father in a detrimental way. When things are easy going and swell, we might find it less difficult to praise Him in these times, versus when we experience some pain or suffering.

These hard times, or “experiences” we go through aren’t all bad though, paradoxically, if we view it in a different perspective.

In its original Greek context, the word “experience” refers to the process or result of a trial; proving; and approved character.

So, when the things you are going through doesn’t make sense, or if you feel like God isn’t on your side anymore, remember He has not, and will not forsake you despite what you feel.

Romans 8: 35-37 says,

“Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean He no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death? No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us.”

Friends, we need to come to a place where even in suffering, we know we are still winning and have victory through Christ. Paul writes again in Romans 5:3,

“But we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.”

Sometime these “experiences” need to happen before perseverance can be cultivated and in order to lead us to our final friend; hope.

Don’t get caught in between the battle of hardship and the degree of love God has for you. When adversity strikes, in you, or towards you, let’s make an effort to really understand what it means to take God up on His word. Let’s not merely read it, recite it, or memorize it. Let’s become active participants that dwell in His knowledge and are eager to know Him more and more on a personal level. If the confusion of crossfire has crossed your trenches, remember Who’s side you really belong to.

And so, we leave you with this Word,

"I pray that from His glorious, unlimited resources He will empower you with inner strength through His Spirit,” (Ephesians 3:16).