When Everyone and Everything Seems to be Working Against You

Are people getting on your last nerve? Trying to do you harm - emotionally, physically, mentally, and spiritually? Do you feel like everything is working against you? Don’t lose your head. God is working it out for your good. 

“Life is 10% of what happens to you and 90% of how you react to it” ~ Charles R. Swindoll

We live in a time where we have been trained to think the world should be a place where only good happens, therefore we are shocked, and in absolute disbelief when bad things happen. The truth is the devil uses people to do harm just like God uses people to do good. Our saving grace is that God is all powerful, He is always in control even when things look out of control. When we don’t understand why things are happening the way they are, let’s declare and stand on Romans 8:28 NIV:

 “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.” 

God is the same, yesterday, today, and forever. He will not waver and His word will never be wrong. Our only problem is the ability to stand on the word of God when bad things happen.

It’s normal to get caught up in what that person did or didn’t do, but that’s not the way it should be. Forgive. The bible goes as far as saying, “if they slap one cheek, give them the other cheek too.” (Ephesians 5: 39) The enemy gets confused when we live out God’s word. Attempts to steal our peace and cause us to produce fruits of bitterness and anger fail. When we forgive we release ourselves from that stronghold and we call more grace upon our lives. Remember the Lord’s prayer “...forgive us as we forgive those who trespass against us…” (Luke 6:9-13). I don’t know about you, but I need as much grace as I can get. That’s enough reason to let things slide and move on. Easy said but not so easy done, right? God foreknew this and gave us the tools to stand firm through adversity. 

“Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.” - Ephesians 6:11-13 NIV

Our war is not against people, it’s spiritual. That’s why our armor doesn’t consist of guns and machetes. We don’t need to yell, shout, or fist fight. We have the:

• belt of truth around our waists -  reinforcing our core and allowing us to move with strength despite our circumstances. The word of God is our anchor. We shall not be tossed about.  
• breastplate of righteousness -  covers our heart space, preventing evil from taking root and keeping our heart pure and right before the Lord. 
• shield of faith to extinguish the flaming arrows of the evil one - protect us from all things trying to kill us, kill our dreams, or kill our vision.
• helmet of salvation - our minds are saved. We have to continually work out our salvation with fear and trembling (Philippians 2:12) by feeding our mind the truth of God’s word, 
• sword of the spirit - This is our weapon! This is how we destroy the enemy and win the battle. Ephesians 6:18 says, “Pray in the spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests.”

I love the story of Joseph: hated and sold into slavery by his own brothers, falsely accused of rape by his master’s wife, wrongly jailed and forgotten by those whom he helped along the way, and yet he remained faithful. He was a young man, there was no maturity to his actions but there was a fear of God.

 How can a young man keep himself pure? By obeying God’s word - Psalms 119:9

After all that Joseph went through because of the actions of his brother, at the end of it all  he could say to them:

“As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today.” - Genesis 50: 20

Life got very tough for Joseph, he couldn’t catch a break. And yet, in hindsight he acknowledged that God was always in control. Even the evil perpetrated against Joseph was turned for his good.