Overcoming for God’s Glory

Chapter 1 Does Anyone Even Care? Does anyone even care? Yes, more than you know. God cares, and so do many others. We care and are here to help you. Hang on, friend. There are days of turmoil and spiritual warfare that are difficult and make us wonder what we are doing wrong. Some days, we pray and seek relief from problems and troubles that seem huge. We feel overwhelmed because the battle seems impossible to win. But whatever is impossible for us is possible for God! The Bible not only warns about the hard things, but it also teaches us how to trust God to bring us through to victory in Jesus’s name. Consider all the scriptures. Apostle John quoted Jesus, the Overcomer, as saying, “In this world, you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world” (John 16:33b). Let us see things from God’s perspective, the way they really are. First, let us establish, once and for all, that God loves you. He is not mad at you. He wants only the absolute best for you! That is why the Father sent Jesus to take our sins upon Himself and die for us. Some are saying, “Yes, thank God! Thank Him for saving me. I cannot do this life without Him.” But others (perhaps you) may be saying, “I am not sure He even knows I exist. I feel like He is so far away.” Or maybe it is, “I am not so sure about that. I have done too many bad things. I do not think God even likes me.” Or maybe you are thinking, If He loves me, why am I going through this? Be assured that God is always about raising you up to new and better heights. Jeremiah, the prophet, wrote the following incredible passage, quoting the Lord, and it is for you, dear one: “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come to pray to me, and I will listen to you.” (Jeremiah 29:11–12 English Standard Version) Did you catch that? God Almighty, Creator of all that exists and ever will, has plans to do what for you? Cause you to prosper and have a future full of hope, in which He to listens to you. Yes, my friend, God loves you, and He longs for you to find Him and to let Him meet your every need. Satan’s goal, however, is to take you down! Ever since he tricked Adam and Eve in the garden of Eden into disobeying God and bringing sin into the world, we have had troubles. In the Bible, Satan is called by many names that reveal his character: “crooked serpent” (Isaiah 27:1 KJV), “father of lies” (John 8:44), “enemy” (Matthew 13:39), “ruler of the darkness of this world” (Ephesians 6:12 KJV), “tempter” (Matthew 4:3), “thief” (John 10:10), “evil-one” (Matthew 13:19, 38). He is wicked. But God intended for all of us, including you, to live and walk with Him forever in that garden He created, where He provided for all our needs, all your needs, including eternal fellowship with Him. God’s reason for sending Jesus to die for us and Holy Spirit to live in us and help us is because of His extravagant love for us. He sent Jesus to take our sin upon Himself, your sin upon Himself, and bring healing to our spirits, our souls, and our bodies. And He sent Holy Spirit to glorify Jesus, pointing us to Him, and to help us stay out of troubles, to help us amid troubles, and to accomplish His purposes for us on the other side of troubles. Apostle John wrote that Jesus said, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life and have it to the full” (John 10:10). That is why God did and does and will always do everything we need to be in a good, healthy, righteous relationship with Him. His love and faithfulness toward you will never end.