Do not be afraid of your adversaries

We all have adversaries in life. We all have that friend who is more like a fiend. We have those foe-like people in our lives. Such people might be your boss, regardless of how much good your work is, they never see it’s value. They only see the slip-ups. I am reminded of David’s foe in the Bible – King Saul in 1 Samuel 19. He despised David so much that he wanted to pin him to the wall with a spear. He even enlisted his son Jonathan to kill David. Saul’s heart churned with envy at David’s successes. He could not stand the potential of promise that he saw in that young man.

There are many foes that you will pick up along the way in your life. These foes will press you and object to your progress just like Pharaoh objected to the progress of the Israelites. He objected to their freedom and the promises God desired for them to walk in. Despite God confounding him and Pharaoh eventually letting the Israelites go, he still found himself chasing them as far as the Red Sea. He was joyous when he saw these multitude of people seemingly trapped. And so he chased them thinking there was no place for them to escape to!

And yet I have come to understand that the very thing that presses you and challenges you and forces your hand to make a turn, is what truly pushes you to make that turn God has wanted you to take for a long time. If Pharaoh had not chased after the Israelites, they would have stayed on that side of the Red Sea, looking at the Sea as an insurmountable obstacle. They could have turned back. Look at what God did! Their foe was actually a helper.

And so I encourage you not to be afraid of your adversary. Do not be intimidated by its strength against you; do not be afraid of being swallowed up! It is the very thing you need; it often turns out that our adversary is our best tool for overcoming. Let it all work out in His way and will. Do not knee jerk into action. Let God be in control of the action all the way!

Linda Faith

Linda faith is the editor of Jewels Magazine. She co-pastors along with her husband Revival Worship Church, Tampa. She is a prolific writer and powerful speaker, inspiring many women to be all God has called them to be. She is the founder of Joy Women’s conference which reaches out to empower, inspire and motivate women in their faith walk.