Faith's Power: Overcoming Obstacles

how does faith conquer obstacles

Faith is a powerful force that can help individuals overcome obstacles and challenges in their lives. While it is natural to encounter difficulties and adversity, faith provides a source of strength and resilience that enables people to persevere and conquer their struggles. This concept is beautifully illustrated in the Bible, where stories of individuals facing hardships with faith offer valuable lessons on how to navigate life's trials. By trusting in God, individuals can find the courage to confront their fears, embrace suffering, and maintain hope in the face of uncertainty. Faith encourages people to take action, challenge their doubts, and seek guidance from a higher power. It replaces worry with trust and empowers individuals to rise above their circumstances. Ultimately, faith serves as a beacon of light, providing direction and comfort during life's darkest moments.

Characteristics Values
Don't focus on the problem Focus on God
Recognize that Jesus is with you Mark 4:37-41
Have patience and persevere Romans 8:24-25
Refuse worry and fear The Bible tells us in 119 verses not to fear or be anxious or worry
Trust in God's promises Base your faith on things that cannot be shaken
Don't be afraid to cry out Pray
Swallow your pride Submit to God's will
Ask God for discernment God can do anything
Cling to Godly values Love, patience, integrity, the willingness to forgive, humility
Take the offensive 2 Corinthians 10:4,5
Embrace suffering Hebrews 10:34,35
Don't trust in your own thinking Study Scripture

shunspirit

Overcoming emotional obstacles

Emotional obstacles can be incredibly challenging to overcome, but faith can be a powerful tool to help you navigate through them. Here are some ways in which you can overcome emotional obstacles with faith:

Identify and Acknowledge Your Emotions

It's important to recognize and acknowledge the emotions you're experiencing. Take some time to reflect and identify the specific emotions you're feeling, such as fear, anxiety, sadness, or anger. Be honest with yourself and don't minimize your emotions. Understanding your emotions is the first step towards learning how to manage and overcome them effectively.

Prayer and Surrender

When faced with emotional challenges, prayer can be a powerful tool. Surrender your worries, fears, and anxieties to God. Open your heart and honestly express your emotions and requests to Him. Remember, God wants you to come to Him with your burdens. Through prayer, you can find comfort, strength, and guidance. As you pray, try to cultivate a sense of trust and dependence on God, knowing that He is with you and will help you navigate through these emotions.

Meditate on God's Word

The Bible is filled with verses that can provide comfort, hope, and strength during difficult times. Meditating on Scripture can help you replace negative thoughts with God's truth and gain a new perspective on your situation. Some relevant verses include:

  • "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world, you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." (John 16:33)
  • "Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4:6-7)
  • "Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take." (Proverbs 3:5-6)

Seek Wise Counsel

Sharing your struggles with trusted friends, family members, or a mentor can help you process your emotions and gain new insights. It's important to have a support system of people who can pray for you, offer encouragement, and provide wise advice. Don't isolate yourself; instead, lean on your community of believers to help you carry your emotional burdens.

Practice Emotional Regulation

While faith is crucial, it's also important to develop practical skills for managing your emotions. This includes learning how to control your emotions, stay calm, and make rational decisions. Emotional regulation techniques such as deep breathing, mindfulness, or journaling can help you respond to challenging situations in a healthy way. Additionally, seeking professional help from a Christian counselor or therapist can provide you with additional tools to overcome emotional obstacles.

Remember, overcoming emotional obstacles is a process, and it may take time. Be patient with yourself and continue to rely on God's strength and guidance as you navigate through these challenges.

shunspirit

Defeating worry and fear

The Bible is very clear that fear is not from God. Instead, fear is a demonic spirit, not an emotion or feeling, and it comes from Satan. Satan wants us to walk in fear, but God wants us to walk by faith.

Understanding Faith

Faith is the confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. It is the hope in God’s promises to protect us, to grow us, and to love us. Faith is the opposite of fear. When we learn to live in faith and not let fear rule our lives, we can enjoy a fulfilling, peaceful, and joyful life in Christ.

Worship Over Worry

Worship is a spiritual weapon. When we choose to worship God, we focus on His goodness and all the good things He has done for us. We invite His power and presence into our lives. When we are tempted to worry, we must make the decision to practice our faith. We can do this by saying things like:

> God, I believe you are working in my life. I trust You, and I’m expecting something good to happen today!

> Your Word says you are an ever-present help in a time of trouble. I know that You love me and that You’re working on my behalf right now.

Faith in Action

Faith is not just something we feel or think; it is something we do. We must make the conscious decision to put our trust in God and His promises daily. If we don't, our faith will shrink, and we will leave room for fear to creep back into our lives.

Overcoming Fear

The Bible tells us that God has not given us a spirit of fear but of power, love, and a sound mind. We are called to live by faith, not by sight. We must choose to have faith in God and His Word, and this will set us free from fear, worry, and anxiety.

Practical Steps to Overcoming Fear

  • Read, study, and meditate on the Word of God.
  • Remember who you are and whose you are.
  • Examine yourself and identify your fears.
  • Ask the Holy Spirit to help you and obey His promptings.
  • Encourage yourself and be courageous.
  • Refuse to speak negatively over your life.
  • Put on the whole armor of God and use God’s Word against Satan.

shunspirit

Recognising and rejecting unbelief

Moreover, we must surrender our worldly desires and replace them with a burning desire for the things of God. This involves recognising our limitations and humbly surrendering to God, allowing Him to transform us and grow our faith. We must also believe in God's love, understanding that He is LOVE itself and that He has compassion for us. We must have faith in His love and believe that He desires the best for us.

To overcome unbelief, we must actively seek God and ask for His help. We must be willing to surrender our self-reliance and trust fully in Him. This may involve fasting and prayer, as Jesus instructed the disciples when they struggled to cast out a demon due to their unbelief. By fasting and praying, we demonstrate our dependence on God and our willingness to submit to His will.

Additionally, we must be vigilant against the influence of others' unbelief. Unbelief can be contagious, and those who reject Christ and try to influence others to do the same are committing a grave sin in God's eyes. It is crucial to surround ourselves with believers and seek support from our Christian community to stay strong in our faith.

Finally, we must remember that faith and worry cannot coexist. When we choose to trust God and surrender our worries to Him, our faith grows, and worry fades away. Recognising and rejecting unbelief is a continuous process that requires labour and surrender. As we strive to know God's will, reject fear, believe in His love, and seek His help, we can conquer unbelief and experience the fullness of faith.

shunspirit

Trusting in God's promises

Hebrews 10:23 in the NIV says: ""Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful." This verse underscores the importance of holding steadfastly to the promises of God and highlights His faithfulness.

  • Everlasting life: "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life" (John 3:16, NIV).
  • The Holy Spirit: "If you love me, keep my commands. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever — the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you" (John 14:15-17, NIV).
  • Peace: "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid" (John 14:27, NIV).
  • Love: "Know therefore that the Lord your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commandments" (Deuteronomy 7:9, NIV).
  • Care: "So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well" (Matthew 6:31-33, NIV).
  • Strength: "But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not faint" (Isaiah 40:31, NIV).
  • Rest: "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light" (Matthew 11:28-30, NIV).

These promises provide assurance and hope to Christians, who are encouraged to trust in God's faithfulness and rely on His presence and power in their lives.

  • Returning: This entails turning away from disobedience and sin, which are incompatible with genuine trust in God. It also involves drawing close to the Lord.
  • Rest: When we trust God, we can find rest in Him as our Protector and Guard, knowing that we don't have to strive to protect ourselves.
  • Quietness: Trusting God means being quiet before Him and others, not needing to argue for ourselves because we know He is on our side.
  • Confidence: Trusting in God's promises gives us a profound confidence, knowing that He will come through on our behalf because He loves us.

Christians are called to put their trust in God and His promises, believing that He is faithful and able to keep His word.

shunspirit

Nurturing faith through God's word

Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. It is the foundation of our relationship with God, and it can help us conquer the obstacles we face in life. But how do we nurture and strengthen our faith? Here are some ways to do it through God's Word:

Immerse Yourself in Scripture

Study and meditate on God's Word. The Bible is packed with faith-building instruction and inspiration. Reading and reflecting on Scripture helps us to know God better and understand His promises. It also equips us with the weapons we need for our spiritual warfare (2 Corinthians 10:4,5). As we fill our minds with God's truth, our faith grows and we are better able to face life's challenges.

Recognize and Overcome Unbelief

Unbelief is a significant obstacle to faith. It can limit what God can do in our lives, as seen in Mark 6:5-6 when Jesus was unable to perform miracles due to the unbelief of the people in His hometown. We must recognize that our faith has an impact on God's ability to work in our lives. Overcoming unbelief means choosing to trust in God's Word and His power, even when we cannot see the outcome.

Guard Your Heart

Our hearts are vulnerable to the enemy's lies, condemnation, and fear. These negative thoughts can shrink our faith and limit our expectation of God. We must nurture our faith by filling our hearts with God's truth. Philemon 1:6 reminds us that our faith becomes effective by acknowledging every good thing we have in Christ Jesus. Knowing our identity and power in Christ helps us to stand firm against the enemy's attacks.

Focus on God, Not the Problem

When faced with adversity, follow the example of the prophet Daniel (Daniel 2:12-14; 6:17). Instead of panicking or fleeing, he submitted himself to God's protection. By keeping our eyes on God, the problem fades into the background. Trust that God is with you and will never leave you, no matter what challenges you face.

Embrace Suffering

Faith is not about avoiding suffering but about standing strong in the midst of it. Hebrews 10:34,35 says, "For you sympathized with the prisoners and accepted with joy the confiscation of your possessions, knowing that you yourselves have a better and enduring possession. So don’t throw away your confidence, which has a great reward." Suffering can be an opportunity to grow our faith and deepen our dependence on God.

Frequently asked questions

Focus on God and let faith conquer your fears. Do not be discouraged, and do not let worry and fear overwhelm you.

Faith and worry cannot coexist. When faith walks in, worry walks out. When you trust, you don't worry.

Unbelief, tradition, and the enemy knocking at the door of your heart are all obstacles to faith. Unbelief can limit what God can do, as seen in Mark 6:5-6. Trusting in tradition can limit God's movement in your life if it doesn't align with His will. The enemy seeks to destroy you by feeding you lies, condemnation, and fear, causing your faith to shrivel.

Strengthen your faith by acknowledging who you are in Christ, nurturing what God says about you, and studying Scripture. Focus on God, not the problem, and trust in His promises.

Faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen (Hebrews 11:1). It is looking beyond reason to believe in what we cannot yet see. It is trusting that God is with us and will fight our battles, as Caleb and Joshua told the Israelites (Numbers 14:9).

Written by
Reviewed by
Share this post
Print
Did this article help you?

Leave a comment