How to Find Strength During the Struggle?

After writing my last blog post, "How to Get in the Reach of Vision?", I was on a mission to do just that. I was being obedient and doing everything God was asking me to do, even if it was not ideal. Suddenly, I received one of the harshest blows to my mind. As hard as the hit was, the blow was not the issue, it was the fact that I was caught off guard. The enemy came to attack me because he was intimidated by my obedience. He knew that I was getting in the reach of the vision God had for me, so he was coming to knock me off of my spiritual mountain. I was so focused on the climb that I forgot to watch out for the enemy. I was praying daily and talking to God, but being consumed with school caused me to stop reading the Word of God consistently.

That was the enemy's tactic. He recognized that I was weak because of my spiritual hunger and he was able to cause me to stumble. As I was starting to pray to God in attempts of getting back up, the enemy came and struck me again from another angle. I did not stumble this time, I collapsed. The devil tried to get me to tap out by holding me down. He wanted me to stop doing the will of the Lord. Instead, I began to laugh because I recognized the enemy's deceit. The devil tried knocking me down by telling me what I was not capable of. He told me that I could not finish my book, could not go back to school, could not teach during a pandemic, could not speak life into others, etc. The devil was trying to attack my mind, but he did not realize that I had the mind of Christ. On my journey up my spiritual mountain in attempts of getting closer to God, I was given discernment. As weak as I was, I found strength by tapping into who God told me I am!

The devil really thought he had me after those first two blows and I can admit that I fell down, but I did not stay there. As I was hit I had flashbacks of depression, doubt, fear, etc. Those same flashbacks forced me to get back up because I knew that I could not go back to that. I was too close to the promise to allow the enemy to win this fight, so I tagged my God in to handle my lightweight. Every time the devil struck me with one of his lies; I hit him ten times harder by forcefully reminding him of who God says I am. All I had to do was extend the blow and my God carried it through.

Strike 1: The devil told me that I could not write the book because I do not have the resources. I replied, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me (Phil. 4:13)". God finished it by saying, "No she will not write "the book" because she will produce a plethora of books".

Strike 2: The devil said I would be miserable and overworked this school year because of uncertainty and lack of clear direction. I replied, "God is not the author of confusion but of peace (1 Corin. 14:33). God finished it by saying, "She will unlock the ultimate level of peace in the midst of uncertainty and I will stretch her to prove that she is capable of doing anything through me."

Strike 3: The devil said I could not go back to school for my Master's in Educational Leadership while teaching during a pandemic because I was bound to fail. I replied, "I am more than a conqueror". God finished it by saying, "Not only will she finish, but I am going to teach her how to revamp the same educational system you have been trying to destroy".

Strike 4/Knockout: : The devil said I could not speak life into others because I am dead myself. I replied, "I shall live and not die, and will proclaim what the Lord has done for me (Psalm 118:17). God finished it by saying, "You will see how "dead" she is when she is able to lead the same people you are trying to break to their breakthrough".

I left that fight stronger than I did when I entered it and the vision that I was seeking came in the midst of the battle. When I started this spiritual journey I wanted God to bring the vision to me, but I had to go through some things to get in the reach of the vision. Everything that I went through while climbing my spiritual mountain was preparing me for this very moment. The enemy was exerting so much energy trying to knock me out because he knew that I was a step away from the vision God promised me.

I had two options, I could have allowed the enemy to take me out/push me into the arms of my comfort zone (bottom of my spiritual mountain). Instead, I chose to take the struggle of my feelings, my pain, my doubt to my ultimate comforter. I allowed God to take over and fight the battle for me. I thought I could sit it out, but God needed me to lead the fight because he wanted the enemy to know that I have God given authority to defeat him as well!

This experience taught me that the enemy only comes when you are on the verge of what God promised you. So when he comes to attack you, just hit him back ten times harder with the help of your Creator. If you do not know who you are, go to God's word and find out what he says about you before you start believing what the devil will try to convince you of. If I would have allowed the enemy to knock me out and I decided to let him win, I would not be able to encourage you today. I'd be stuck somewhere back in my comfort zone believing the lies of the enemy. The enemy knows the power and authority that is attached to your name. That is why he works so hard for you not to know because if you did, you would be unstoppable. The enemy knows that your deliverance is a gateway to the breakthrough of others.

Message to the Enemy: The next time you come for me, you better come harder than that and just know that I will take you out again because I have my Father fighting right along with me!

Advice: As hard as the struggle may be, extend the blow and God will give you the strength to carry it through.