Being an overcomer

“Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.” Romans 5:3

Trials, tests and temptations are inevitable, no matter how hard we try to avoid them. God does not cause the trials in our lives, but He does allow them to happen. Many of us want the good things that God has for us without being willing to pay the price for it. We expect God to give n give and all we do is take and take. But what God wants to do is to shape us and mould us into our eternal purposes.

What many people fail to realize is that God always has a reward at the end of a refining process. It is after we have been through the fire that we can be finer than gold. It is after we allow the Potter to shape us that we can be made into a beautiful vase. But we can choose to either allow the fire to refine us, or burn us. We can choose to allow the Potter to shape us, or to continue being an ugly lump of clay.

“No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.” Romans 8:37

We all want to be conquerors and through God, we can indeed have the victory. But remember, there can be no victory without an obstacle. You cannot be a conqueror without going through a trial. Imagine if a person announces that he is a winner but in actual fact, he is a winner of nothing. What do you think of such a person? He is a liar! In fact, the greater the obstacle, the greater the winning prize! To share a testimony is to share what God has done in our lives, not only how He saved us, but also how He brought us through the tests. Remember, there can be no TESTimony without a TEST; neither can there be a miracle without a need.

King David’s first real victory was when he defeated a giant named Goliath (1 Samuel 17). He could not have gained such recognition had he been afraid and withdrawn from the giant. But instead of being afraid and backing off, David ran quickly toward the battle line to meet him (1 Samuel 17:48). David was not interested in being famous; he was furious because Goliath had defiled the name of God (1 Samuel 17:26).

David was bold in facing his enemy because he knew that God is with him. Though he was just a small boy with a sling and five pebbles, he defeated Goliath (1 Samuel 17:50) who was well dressed and armed (1 Samuel 17:4-7), with one single pebble. The truth is, it was not David who fought Goliath, but God. We must remember that the battles that we face are not ours to fight, but if we will surrender to God, He will fight for us (1 Samuel 17:47). And because God is fighting, our victory is guaranteed.

“And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.” Romans 5:5

The reason why many believers cannot withstand a storm is because they do not understand the fullness of God’s love. The moment we have that revelation that God truly loves us, hope is instilled. We know that God will not abandon us in the midst of the fire. We know deep inside that no matter how difficult things are, God will bring us through victoriously. We know that at the end of it all, there is a reward waiting for us. We know that all things will work together for good for those who love him and are called according to His purposes (Romans 8:28). There will be such a deep sense of security and assurance.

God wants us to know that though we may face many afflictions, He will deliver us from them all (Psalms 34:19). He will never leave us nor forsake us. His plans for us are always good and pure. We need to lay hold of these promises because they will sustain us through our trials. Learn to respond correctly in the midst of trials, and always remember that we are conquerors through Christ Jesus.