Don’t Let Setbacks Make You Quit

Fresh Manna© by Pastor Tim Burt

2 Cor 5:21 “God made Him (Jesus) who was not guilty of any sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.”

There are the wonderful times in life when everything just seems to go great and life is like a bowl of cherries (I heard that expression somewhere.) But then, because of the demonic influence that Satan has upon this world infecting and affecting all our lives, there are simply times in life when all does not go well. I have never known a person in this earth who hasn’t gone through times of mayhem, turbulence, and some degree of unrest. An example might be the turmoil that can come in marriage although what I am going to say could apply to turmoil in any situation.

Most marriages go through periods of difficulty for many different reasons. It could be because of initial period of needing to adapt to one another in a new marriage. It could be because of financial pressures, or health problems, or temptations of unfaithfulness or the pressures child-raising can spawn. Any of these situations can produce periods of hardship within marriage. When two people are struggling in a marriage, very little seems great in life.

A person struggling in personal turmoil can feel like a failure – like someone with the spiritual depth of a rock. In times like that it’s easy to disqualify yourself as someone that could possibly offer someone else help or guidance because of your own present lack of success.

When a person is feeling low or down it’s important to realize that this is when the devil would like to come in and deliver the deathblow. It’s bad enough that you are beating yourself up for what is going on but to compound that, the devil will come and accuse and confirm everything that is going wrong and why you have no right to even call yourself a Christian much less be used of God.

Back when Promise Keepers was sweeping the country, many men including Pastors became very transparent in their personal struggles. They confessed that they were ministering to other people about things they were themselves struggling over. They would confess how the devil tormented them calling them hypocrites and fakes. They would testify that the warfare was so great that many of them became convinced that they needed to give up their ministry. Let me tell you that if every one of us gave up representing God when we were struggling through an area of our life, the Body of Christ would be at an absolute standstill.

Today’s Fresh Manna says that we were made the righteousness of God through Christ Jesus. Romans 5:17 tells us that righteousness – to be in right standing with God – is a gift. Philippians 3:9 tell us that our righteousness that is accepted by God is a righteousness that Jesus earned for us as a gift. Most people think that our righteousness is about how holy we act before God and man. God does want us to conform to His Word more and more but that is a life-long process. The Bible says that our own righteousness is like filthy rags compared to the righteousness of God. So what am I trying to say? People will always be working through struggles in different areas of their life. Christians can’t afford to let the devil talk them out of letting God use them as they continue to work through personal issues. We will always be growing in the development of living more righteously for the Lord.

When the devil tells you that you are useless and that you should quit, remember what Ephesians 6:17 tells us. “Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.” The helmet of salvation reminds us that it was God’s doing, not our own ability to become righteous in His eyes and to stay righteous in His eyes. Salvation is a gift. The ability to be seen righteous by God is a gift. The helmet is to protect the devil invading our minds creating that sense of unworthiness.

Rom 4:23-24 says, “The words “it was credited to him” were written not for Abraham alone, but also for us, to whom God will credit righteousness–for us who believe in Him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead.” It is God’s doing through Jesus Christ as an expression of His mercy and grace to each of us who believe.

You and I will always feel inadequate in our personal holiness. Thank the Lord that He sees our sins covered by the sacrifice and blood of His Son Jesus! The bottom line – don’t quit trying to touch and help others with God’s love. Over time you’ll get personal victory in one area and then another. But if you don’t quit serving God, you’ll be a blessing to others along the way! Helping others will actually help strengthen you on your road to your victory. So, when things get tough and turmoil comes, pray and trust that God will see you through it. And be strengthened by the touch of God that comes to you in your troubles as you are a blessing to others!

In His Love,
Pastor Tim Burt
http://readfreshmanna.blogspot.com/