Your safety isnt guaranteed. Ruth. And yet, he overcame, by surrendering to the will of the Father. For instance, in the Book of Genesis, the hero Noah builds a vessel and saved animals and his family, even as he watched the rest of the world wash away in a tremendous flood brought forth by God. When talking about Bible characters who suffered, Job would be one of the first few people Christians think of and rightly so. Stratgey #7 - Overcome Obstacles by Seeking Strength and Wisdom from God "And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. . Article Images Copyright , 14 Bible Characters Who Wrestled with Their Faith and Won, Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! Abigail. Peters faith brought him back to Jesus, who not only reconciled him but asked him to feed His sheep. I don't believe in circumstances. "The Lord is good, a strong refuge when trouble comes. He wanted to always do things the right way. But in the garden of Gethsemane he felt our humanity under the intense pressure. Thus he killed many more when he died than while he lived.Judges 16:28-30 (NIV). Thank the Lord! Hi! The action you just performed triggered the security solution. When we don't understand what God is doing, it's easy to feel inadequate. This is something we can learn: to not compromise when faced with solutions which we know are wrong. Gideons appeal for grace was answered abundantly and he fulfilled his mission as led by the Lord. At this, Job got up and tore his robe and shaved his head. Its about staying true to God, even when its not easy! That's how I feel. His son Isaac did the same thing. I think so often in life, we think were entitled to have only good things, and when bad things happen, it can be tempting to give up on God. He will renew your life and sustain you in your old age. But Nehemiah didn't quit or rationalize that it "wasn't God's Will" because of the difficulties involved. Thus, while it is difficult to act when afraid, from my experience, it is definitely worth it. A voice of one is calling out,"Clear the way for the Lord in the wilderness [remove the obstacles ];Make straight and smooth in the desert a highway for our God. The Bible tells us that David grew increasingly frustrated from his constant running and hiding, living in caves and surviving on whatever food his men could find or what those loyal to him would give. Mary, Jesus mother, is among the Bibles most significant adored female characters, and several belief her to have been the holiest among all Christian martyrs. Our emphasis, this time, would be on female characters who overcame obstacles. They followed him, served him, and listened to him, but still wrestled with their faith. Their stories stress one of the most important lessons of all: Never . The people of Israel murmured against Moses, wondering what they should drink. And the Lord showed him a piece of wood, He threw it in the water, and the water became fit to drink (Exodus 15:25). Take a page from Davids book, and place your absolute trust and faith in Gods sovereign power to deliver you (not your own ability). He felt God had abandoned them, but cried out for favor. These eight Bible characters overcame seemingly insurmountable obstacles to overcome trials and tribulations of their own. Jul 5, 2022 12:07 AM EDT. Updated on April 08, 2020. But when the kings wife, Jezebel, heard about all of this, she threatened Elijahs life. Throughout the prolonged unrest, the book of Kings lets us know she became the only female judge. Standing there is a figure. So while it may seem easier to take immoral solutions during times of trouble, doing so will only cause future regret especially on the day we meet God. And what a man of faith Job was! Every wrestling match that Moses went through was met with the grace of God. denied knowing Jesus with cursing and swearing. We ended last week with a high point in the lives of the sons of Israel and Moses. Hannah. Which character of the Bible overcomes a very great obstacle? Even in writing, sometimes its hard to find the right words to express my thoughts. Esther demonstrated heroic qualities by risking her head to preserve the survival of her community. Jochebed, Moses mother, and Miriam protected Moses by concealing him in the rushes at the lakes side. Noah got drunk. Building each other up is what were called to do. "The Lord showed him a piece of wood. Your donation will go to funding the generation of more faith-based content to sow into the digital domain. Jobs story reminds me of this testimony I heard about a Christian couple who lost their children in a traffic accident. Stick with what you know. Even though it would have been safer to prioritise himself and stay quiet, Paul focused on bringing people to God even while imprisoned. The Man Who Overcame Obstacles Zacchaeus was the wealthy man of Jerusalem who gathered revenue for the Roman government, but who became a disciple of Christ ( Luke 19:1-10 ). An overcomer is not sinless, but holds fast to faith in Christ until the end. Now it came about when all the kings of the Amorites who were beyond the Jordan to the west, and all the kings of the Canaanites who were by the sea, heard how the Lord had dried up the waters of the Jordan before the sons of Israel until they had crossed, that their hearts melted, and there was no spirit in them any longer because of the sons of Israel. Mother Teresa once said, "I'm a little pencil in the hand of a writing God, who is sending a love letter to the world.". (Job 1:20-21), The rest of the Book of Job tells us that through it all, Job struggles with his suffering, saying to God, "Does it please you to oppress me, to spurn the work of your hands, while you smile on the plans of the wicked?" Where you die I will die, and there I will be buried. He cried out to God. While how we react to other people's behaviors can be an indicator of what we need to work on ourselves, the second tendency we have that is preventing us from growing in our relationships is to dismiss or ignore the issue, or even the person. I dont know what youre talking about, he said. Are you still waiting to see victory in some area of your life? He wondered, if the Lord is with us, why has all this happened to us? 15475 Gleneagle DrColorado Springs, CO 80921Phone: (719) 481-5481Email: geninfo@ba.org. But he denied it before them all. Mordecai, Esthers cousin, pleaded for her to talk to the King. It is the one who believes and recognizes the fact that Jesus is the Son of God. This four-week email series includes a weekly devotional + journaling prompts, to help you dive deeper into God's Word through creative journaling. The Female character, too, lost her spouse without having children, leading others to believe she was barren. Then he fell to the ground in worship and said: "Naked I come from my mother's womb, and naked I will depart. Miriam helped lead the Hebrew folks over the 40 years of wandering living while seeking the Promised Land alongside her siblings Moses and Aaron. Faith is putting your trust in something or someone. The Bible has several great examples of individuals who prove that you can go through difficult times and make it through to the other side with God as your guide. Bible Characters Who Overcame Obstacles. Adam and Eve failed to protect their children from sin and death. Because Jesus is who he says he is, Lazarus was raised to life that same day. He was the hero who defeated Goliath, successful in war and had the love of the people. Stay here and keep watch with me. For by You I can run upon a troop;And by my God I can leap over a wall. Im a Jesus-lovin girl, lettering artist, designer, and general creative-at-heart. If youre new here, be sure and subscribe to my list so you wont miss anything! David. I take your privacy very seriously. 2. This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks. True overcoming (of sin, of challenges, of trials and tribulations), cant happen without those two essentials. It is never easy to make it through difficult phases of life. He ate and drank and then lay down again. If He leads us to it, He'll lead us through it. This is a spam-free zone. Pastor Jentezen Franklin. I pour out before him my complaint; before him I tell my trouble.". But, Samson wasnt going to fade away quietly. Elijah is known for prophesying drought and subsequently being fed by ravens and a widow before his epic challenge to the prophets of Baal on Mount Horeb. (You can read more about this in the book of Acts). Come and see the place where he lay. Spiritual Development Stumbling Blocks - Ignorance. Wisdom and beauty both found a home in Abigail, whose story is found in 1 Samuel. But when Jesus was arrested, Peter wrestled between faith and fear. It occurred because God has spoken. If you ever wonder if a sin is forgivable, or if a wayward person can be redeemed, just read and reflect on Pauls conversion story in Acts 9:1-30. Okay now, enough about you and me! Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors. Then he lay down under the bush and fell asleep. And the schemer is eager for their wealth. It is the one who believes and recognizes the fact that Jesus is the Son of God.1 John 5:4-5 (AMP). I blog about faith in God, overcoming challenges, and creative topics such as Bible journaling. Ruth had to have been going through many hardships and obstacles, yet she didnt let her experience stand in her way. How might these stories and lessons from the Bible speak to your troubles? A great example can be found in the Lewis and Clark expedition. By Herb Scribner hscribner@deseretnews.com. He struggled to believe he could deliver his people from Egypt after murdering an Egyptian and being rejected by his Hebrew brothers. Too often we let the slightest obstruction get in the way of our walk with Christ. Pastor Jentezen Franklin. }. David ran into the wildness to escape and during this time, he had opportunities to kill Saul. (As the Scriptures say, For your sake we are killed every day; we are being slaughtered like sheep.) No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us.Romans 8:35-37 (NLT). Reaching into his bag and taking out a stone, he slung it and struck the Philistine on the forehead. But then there was a slight problem: No water to drink. but in everything commending ourselves as servants of God, in much endurance, in afflictions, in hardships, in distresses. His harvest the hungry devourAnd take it to a place of thorns,And the schemer is eager for their wealth. Oh, boy speaking of mistakes! Stories about Overcoming Obstacles. During this time, he actively preached the word of God to the people who visited him. God's forgiveness doesn't save us from the consequences of our conduct, but if we've abandoned the behavior and are willing to accept the consequences, God will still use us. Who makes him mute, or deaf, or seeing, or blind? And time and time again, he had the chance to kill Saul, but he didn't because his heart was good. Elijah had given his whole life into the service of the Lord. Thankfully, he kept on, doing his best with whatever situation faced him - and saved his family (70 relatives) from a terrible famine, which lineage eventually led to Jesus Christ, the Savior . Jonah didnt wrestle with his faith because what God asked him to do was hard; Jonah wanted Nineveh to be destroyed. We love seeing stories of people who battled back from illness, who overcame poverty, became the first in their family to graduate from college, or achieved a seemingly impossible feat. "Beautiful souls are shaped by ugly experiences.". Even though David had the solution to his problems, he never strayed from his morals. The 16 incredible stories below show how even horrible tragedies and setbacks can help fuel a drive for success. The Bible has many great examples of individuals who journeyed through tough times with God by their side. The women said to Naomi: Praise be to the LORD, who this day has not left you without a guardian-redeemer. And thats exactly what Gideon did! They believed for the future last day but wrestled with the now. Only the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God." 1 John 5:4-5 Wrestling with your faith isnt a sign of weakness, but evidence of your humanity. Four Aged Bible Women and Their Spiritual Legacies. But, Jesus wasnt going to let that happen! Hannah desperately desired a baby but was childless. Sarah, Abraham's wife, laughed at the promise of God and then denied that she laughed. A. She had a son and called him Samuel. If youve ever thought youre too young, too old, too weak, or not good enough to serve the Lord or fulfill a dream He laid on your heart, just throw all that out the window. Deborah illustrates a woman who had confidence in God and aspired to be a beacon to her nation. See what Jesus says about it, in Revelation, He who overcomes [the world through believing that Jesus is the Son of God] will accordingly be dressed in white clothing; and I will never blot out his name from the Book of Life, and I will confess and openly acknowledge his name before My Father and before His angels [saying that he is one of Mine].Revelation 3:5 (AMP), The one who overcomes, I will grant to him to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat with My Father on His throne.Revelation 3:21 (NASB). Job eventually repents and is humbled before God. These overcomers choose to make a way around obstacles. Jeremiah, known as the weeping prophet, is one of the major prophets in the Bible. Abraham is an example that even if we keep wrestling, we can win. Danielle Bernock writes about overcoming the effects of childhood and emotional trauma through the power of the love of God. She sold him out to the Philistines, and in the end he even lost his eyesight because of it. We should never try to go through obstacles in our lives without having God with us. 5. With those words, Esther was motivated to act. He said, "when you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am he and that I do nothing on my own but speak just what the Father has taught me.". Yet it took God telling Abraham the promise seven times before Abraham was fully convinced. In all this, Job did not sin by charging God with wrongdoing.Job 1:20-22 (NIV). Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death? 2) John the Baptist John the Baptist faced opposition from two of the most powerful systems during his time: the religious system (the Pharisees) and the monarchy (Herod the tetrarch). There, Paul sang to God in worship, until a violent earthquake occurred. God wanted him to defeat the Midianites, but he thought he was too weak for the job. 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