There have been seasons of my life where satan and his demons have tormented me.
Daily, I’ve had to approach God to say, “God,
look at me. Hear me. I’m bowing at Your throne every day. I’m reading the Word, I’m praying,
I’m declaring, I'm decreeing, I’m gathering support around me and asking for prayer
and wisdom, I’m worshiping. But I’m still being tormented by satan and it is not. Letting. Up.”
It’s so easy to feel exasperated when we think God isn’t answering our prayers for deliverance.
It’s really easy to give up hope and to look off into the future and think - “Well,
this is what my life is going to look like from now on. Daily torment. SO MUCH fun.”
In times like these, I find that the Word of God is the most solid rock of foundation
that I can turn to. I need to hear exactly what He has to say, with no minced words,
and utter confidence that He will speak to me.
In 1 Peter 14, Peter, a disciple of Jesus, says this: “12 Dear friends, don’t be surprised at
the fiery trials you are going through, as if something strange were happening to
you. 13 Instead, be very glad—for these trials make you partners with Christ in his suffering,
so that you will have the wonderful joy of seeing his glory when it is revealed to all the world.”
I want to draw your attention to the way Peter describes the trials.
He calls them “firey trials.” When satan is on your heels, and he’s tormenting you
in every way possible, it does feel like you’re being tried by fire.
Last week, I shared the topic of pruning on my Instagram page. God Himself is the one who
takes shears to our lives and cuts away things, leaving only what is good, pure, peaceful, right,
and true. But sometimes, He allows satan to hold the fire to our feet. Satan thinks he’s causing us
harm, but we know that with God, ALL THINGS work to the good of those who love Him and have been
called to His purpose. That fire, which was meant to harm us, instead makes us holy. It purifies us.
It burns away all of the impurities in our lives. It leaves us shining like pure gold.
So if you are going through a season of torment, and you’ve done everything that you know to do to
“lift off” the torment, but it’s still not budging, I want you to do what Peter says
and BE GLAD. Be encouraged! Be glad that the trial - the torment - is making you partners with
Jesus Christ in His suffering. Eventually, it will be lifted. It cannot and will not last forever.
The result will be that you will be more like Christ, stronger, more mature, braver,
and more equipped to help others who will face the same trials as you in the future.
Your God-confidence will grow, and you will become a MIGHTY WARRIOR.
Declare that you are co-heirs with Christ, and that He has defeated sin and the grave.
Decree that you are always moving from glory to glory,
each step becoming better than the one before.
Worship God through the torment, knowing that your joy
and your worship are mighty weapons of warfare!
Declare, decree, and worship! Declare, decree, and worship!
Don’t be surprised at your fiery trial. Embrace it, because it’s purifying you like pure gold.
Thanks for joining me and don’t forget to subscribe to the channel. I’ll see you next time.