. Hearing this, I realised that even though we may never understand why bad things happen, trusting in God helps us to move forward in the best way possible. When they disobeyed God and ate from the tree of knowledge, they brought sin and death into the world. His parents had to give him away - Ex. Here are 6 examples of advocates in the Bible and their strategies: 1. God wanted him to defeat the Midianites, but he thought he was too weak for the job. Sarah, Abraham's wife. King David is another member of royalty from the Bible who faced troubled periods. At this, Job got up and tore his robe and shaved his head. 4. The action you just performed triggered the security solution. Its not too late! Talking is not my strong suit, and on top of that Im shy and introverted. 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. And I love it, because it so beautifully illustrates how God cares for us when were completely weary and feel like were out of options. BIBLICAL YOUTHS THAT OVERCAME OBSTACULES TO SUCEED. He was known as a man after Gods own heart, yet David was no stranger to wrestling with his faith. "There are no negatives in life, only challenges to overcome that will make you stronger.". Do not consider your maidservant a wicked woman, for out of the abundance of my complaint and grief I have spoken until now.. But in Biblical times, a young person such as Timothy wouldve been looked down upon or even disrespected, because they supposedly werent old enough or wise enough to be leading the people. Jesus will help us win our wrestling matches by his grace. But, God still called me to be a Christian blogger (and, to start a YouTube channel too!). The women said to Naomi: Praise be to the LORD, who this day has not left you without a guardian-redeemer. This four-week email series includes a weekly devotional + journaling prompts, to help you dive deeper into God's Word through creative journaling. Spiritual Development Stumbling Blocks - Ignorance. God had answered my desperate call for help. Bible Hero #2: Moses, Deliverer of God's People Another character who can help us address the challenges and insecurities our children may be experiencing is found in Exodus 3-4. Lets look at some examples of overcomers in the Bible, and see what God says about how to overcome. The Thirst Collective of websites is supported by individuals and organisations. God was testing Moses and his people to see how they would react at having no water in their new land. After this, God told him to name the son Isaac (which means laughter). But God had mercy on him. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that dayand not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.2 Timothy 4:6-8 (NIV). But Nehemiah didn't quit or rationalize that it "wasn't God's Will" because of the difficulties involved. Only the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God." 1 John 5:4-5 Again, when Ziklag was destroyed, his wives were carried off and his men talked about stoning him. And, I have seen and I testify that this is Gods Chosen One.. 7. True overcoming (of sin, of challenges, of trials and tribulations), cant happen without those two essentials. The Walls Will Fall: 7 Days of Miracles. It took a lot of time, the butterfly was trying very hard, and the gap was as little as before. But when he found himself in jail, he questioned if Jesus was really the Messiah. He turned to God for help in his struggle, and God delivered. And thats exactly how Moses felt about the situation, when God picked him to lead the Israelites out of slavery in Egypt. Yet, just as they had strengths that we can learn from, it is also important to remember that every prophet had weaknesses that we can learn from, too. People in the past made their through obstacles and trials because they did not give up. Joseph Joseph was 17 the first time he had his dreams about ruling over his family. "No one cares about you.". There, Paul sang to God in worship, until a violent earthquake occurred. 'How Great Thou Art' By Carrie Underwood with Vince Gill, Jesus on Adultery: Its More Controversial Than You Think, 'You Raise Me Up' Duet Earns A Standing Ovation From The Judges, 10 Things Your Husband Wishes You Would Say to Him, 30 Morning Prayers to Start Each Day with God, 3 Bad Church Approaches to Good Money Stewardship, 5 Critical Rules to Teach Your Kids to Help Them Stay Safe, 4 Things You Should Know about Jesus Revolution, This site is a proud member of the Salem Web Network, a subsidiary of, Copyright 2023, Crosswalk.com. Humbled, Job thus saw that he did not possess a wide enough perspective to judge God. Nevertheless, they prevailed over the greatest challenges in their lives and proved that with strength, courage, and determinationand a little help from Godanyone can succeed. They followed him, served him, and listened to him, but still wrestled with their faith. 8. And, I have narcolepsy. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Queen Esther (Esther 1-10) When Esther's story begins, she and her people are living as exiles in Persia. Danielle Bernock writes about overcoming the effects of childhood and emotional trauma through the power of the love of God. But, she refused to abandon Naomi! There was a time in secondary school when I revealed a huge secret of a friend to others by mistake. Even though King David struggled mightily with his faith, he never remained in this state for long, as he still concludes every psalm praising God and giving Him glory. Here are 20 Bible characters who wrestled with their faith and won. In Philippi, Paul was accused of anti-Roman teachings and got thrown in prison. This is an example worth emulating; we should all try our best to serve God in any situation. Achsah, in the Bible is the daughter of Caleb, the friend of Joshua (Joshua 15:16). What does it mean to be an overcomer? Yet, despite how weighed down they felt due to their dread, they remained strong enough to push through and emerge transformation as a result. But whatever I am now, it is all because God poured out his special favor on meand not without results. Later, Moses returned to Egypt to convince the new Pharaoh to free the Israelites, risking his life. He uses it to shape us. He is with you. Case in point, is the time when King Darius decreed that anyone who prayed to any other god or human besides the king, would be thrown into the lions den. Be encouraged, God has called you an overcomer! They run like mighty men,They climb the wall like soldiers;And they each march in line,Nor do they deviate from their paths. You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked. Jesus declared in John 15:13 that greater love has no one than to lay down ones life for ones friends. Our existence may be reasonably regular almost all day. Described as, " an intelligent and beautiful woman, but her husband was surly and mean in his dealings" (1 Samuel 25:3), Abigail carried herself with dignity and integrity despite her circumstances. 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. 1 John 5:4-5 (AMP) And, any other 'overcoming' that we dowhether in spiritual victory over sin, or just reaching a goal in lifewe do through Christ, who gave His life so we could be reconciled to God. The obstacle is the way. When using these study sheets it is best to use a King James Version Bible in order to avoid confusion. I take your privacy very seriously. At this time, everyone was praising God and singing songs. 1 Peter 5:7 NLT. Hannah desperately desired a baby but was childless. Like Jeremiah, we can be empowered in the midst of our wrestling. Sept 22, 2014, 3:45pm PST. 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. So then, it was not you who sent me here, but God. 2 And the hand of Midian prevailed against Israel: and because of the Midianites the children of Israel made them the dens which are in the mountains, and caves, and strong holds. When talking about Jesus, he said, Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! But, Samson wasnt going to fade away quietly. She knew what it felt like to be lonely. She even declared: If I perish, I perish. They accused Job of sinning, asserting that his suffering was Gods punishment. And yet, after a dramatic encounter with the risen Christ, mere days later Paul was preaching the gospel! This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith.Who is it that overcomes the world? Next up in our examples of overcomers in the Bible, is Job. But soon enough, problems occurred: three days had passed and they could not find drinkable water. Thankfully, we can always turn to Gods word for guidance whenever we go through such difficult periods. Jesus Christ knew who he was and how he was going to die. Ruth encountered obstacles because she was a widow from an insurgent force having no hopes. Nonetheless, God worked wonderfully in her tale, causing her to overcome the obstacles. When he came to Beersheba in Judah, he left his servant there, while he himself went a days journey into the wilderness. MOSES. Look, said Naomi, your sister-in-law is going back to her people and her gods. "The Lord showed him a piece of wood. In Matthew 4:18-21, he tells them he will make them "fishers of men.". And, what can we learn from their examples? Here are a few examples of Bible characters to be inspired and comforted by in these challenging times. 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 . He continued to pray to the Lord, just like normal. Even though David had the solution to his problems, he never strayed from his morals. If God is real, why doesnt He end our suffering? But the reason for Jonahs wrestling with his faith is made clear in the final chapter of the book using a plant. Thank the Lord! The LORD answered, I will be with you, and you will strike down all the Midianites, leaving none alive.Judges 6:14-16 (NIV). The Female characters mentioned in this piece could have existed in civilizations and eras far distinct from ours, yet their experiences can offer us a shocking number. Remember what weve talked about thus farthat keeping FAITH in God is the biggest measure of overcoming. Yet, the Bible character remained a devoted servant: She believed in God and followed His instructions. January 22, 2023. 1.) Obstacles have destroyed many people's faith because they gave up and turned their focus away from the Lord. It is the one who believes and recognizes the fact that Jesus is the Son of God.1 John 5:4-5 (AMP). When the Philistines came with Goliath to challenge Israel, David was the only one willing to fight. Job eventually repents and is humbled before God. 12 Incredibly Successful People Who Overcame Adversity When life feels tough, how they overcame challenges may ease your burden or inspire you. My clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my family. Gideon was fearful. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be. Jesus answered with evidence so John could hold fast to his profession of faith. Then there will be a fourth kingdom as strong as iron; inasmuch as iron crushes and shatters all things, so, like iron that breaks in pieces, it will crush and break all these in pieces. 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. Flipboard. The Bible can be thought of as a book containing stories of people who have achieved in spite of obstacles. Jul 5, 2022 12:07 AM EDT. But Gideon balked at the words and the call. And what a man of faith Job was! He claimed he didn't know. But then there was a slight problem: No water to drink. 4:12. There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves punishment, and the one who fears is not perfected in love. They are you and me, having persevered through life, and held tightly to our faith! We read in Judges 13-16 that Samsons life was plagued by trouble and mistakes. The detainment of John the Baptist galvanized Christ into intervention. Certainly, all of us are going through the current COVID-19 pandemic. You wake up to a bright light in the middle of the room. John sent his disciples to ask Jesus if he was the one. Ouch! Then Caleb quieted the people before Moses and said, We should by all means go up and take possession of it, for we will surely overcome it.. Our time on this earth is the process of proving our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Because Jesus is who he says he is, Lazarus was raised to life that same day. And in many of his New Testament letters, Paul (formerly known as Saul), wrote about the source of his overcoming. 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. When we study the book of Job, we find important principles that can be applied directly to our lives. Deborah & Jael, warrior women Bible text The world she lived in. But I take comfort in knowing I'm not alone in my feelings of insecurity. He wondered, if the Lord is with us, why has all this happened to us? Her devotion is mentioned in the Bible. Jabez loves consuming international media, such as Japanese manga, Korean dramas, and Western tabletop games. Photo by Alex Gindin on Unsplash. Many characters in the Bible felt this way. Sarah remarked that God gave her a laugh and that everyone who heard her would laugh together with r her. So Boaz took Ruth and she became his wife. She was a great model of service to people, even in the worst trying of situations. The jailer then took Paul to his home to wash his wounds. We do not have to be in harsh environments like a desert to encounter difficult times. We can trust in Gods wisdom even when we do not understand we should remember to turn to God for help. In fact, it may even be more effective to serve during periods of struggle! But, even if youve made a thousand mistakes, and youre standing on your last leg, you can still give your life back to God, and finish strong. She never thought she could overcome such. The 16 incredible stories below show how even horrible tragedies and setbacks can help fuel a drive for success. Despite getting revised numerous times, she continues to be a dominant feminine character. 58 Bible Verses about Overcoming He who overcomes, and he who keeps My deeds until the end, to him I will give authority over the nations; 1 John 5:4 Verse Concepts For whatever is born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that has overcome the worldour faith. Nahum 1:7 NLT. Stick with what you know. While there was happiness in maternity, there was also tremendous anguish in honor of becoming Jesuss mother. It is never easy to make it through difficult phases of life. He cried out to God. Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page. He felt God had abandoned them, but cried out for favor. Although her life was full of glory, her vocation nevertheless saw many obstacles. Now therefore go, and I will be with your mouth and teach you what you shall speak.Exodus 4:10-12 (NIV). He declared,it is finished! When we don't understand what God is doing, it's easy to feel inadequate. Have you ever felt inadequate, and wondered how or why in the world God would use you for anything? The 11 didnt believe until Jesus appeared to themand then he appeared again just for Thomas. Elijahs humanity kicked in as he ran for his life, sat under a broom bush wrestling with his faith and praying to die. Additionally, there was the time he stayed home from war, commited adultery with Bathsheba and killed her husband after finding out she was pregnantand these are only three examples. He struggled to believe he could deliver his people from Egypt, and he ran into the wilderness until God appeared to him at the burning bush and called him to do exactly what he had run away from. Hypothetical situation. There are so many great stories of overcoming, both in the Old and New Testaments. Remind yourself of Gods promises, prayers Hes answered in your life, and your personal history with Him. Her first book Emerging With Wings: A True Story of Lies, Pain, And The LOVE that Heals has ushered many to emotional and spiritual freedom. Who among these Bible characters is your favourite and why? sedmak, Getty Images/iStockphoto. But whether youve had tons of victories in life, or very few, the Bible says that if you are in Christ, youre an overcomer! Yet not as I will, but as you will.Matthew 26:36-39 (NIV). But knowing hes wrestling with his faith, the father responds honestly. Marys living rarely took away Jesus splendor because her purpose was to proclaim the triumph of the Son of God. The young lion and the serpent you will trample down. Were you victorious in landing that new job? Here is a lesson we can learn from Job: we can trust in Gods wisdom even when we do not understand. Jesus had predicted Peter's denial and prayed for Peters faith to not fail, "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. These lessons may be reproduced with our permission. 2. Mary Magdalene was released from satanic obstacles and witnessed Christs resurrection glory. Am I not sending you? Do not judge so that you will not be judged. Ruth. Miriam - The First Female Prophetess. Its about staying true to God, even when its not easy! Their stories stress one of the most important lessons of all: Never . The men and women in the Bible show us this. 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