Winning the Battle

God’s Answer to “I Can’t”

As I’ve often said, healing is seldom instantaneous and rarely easy. When we are trying to leave an addiction, we are literally in a battle with the enemy for our freedom. Satan’s plan is to destroy us, and when the addiction took over our lives, he thought he had us. We were, literally, on an auto-pilot course to destruction.

    When we choose to move toward recovery, however, we are taking back something he thought was his and he usually doesn’t let go easily. He tempts us with old thoughts, puts roadblocks in our way and tries to get us to believe that we don’t even have what it takes to become an overcomer.
     
    Recently I’ve been re-reading “Tramp for the Lord” an autobiography of Corrie Ten Boom, a survivor of one of Hitler’s worst concentration camps and the author of “The Hiding Place”. I am in awe at how she was able to trust God through some very horrendous circumstances. But, even this giant of faith admits to entertaining periodic waves of doubts about her ability to do the work God put before her.

     She, evidently had periodic “discussions” with God about her perceived inabilities. The gist of those conversations provides an important truth for us all. She said, “Always when I say I am not able, I get the same answer from the Lord. He says, “I know you can’t. I have known it already a long time. I am glad now you know it for yourself for now you can let Me do it.” 

    This recovery thing is not so much about being stronger, smarter, or full of willpower as it is about learning how to trust God to provide what we lack.

     “Keep a cool head. Stay alert. The Devil is poised to pounce, and would like nothing better than to catch you napping. Keep your guard up. You’re not the only ones plunged into these hard times. It’s the same with Christians all over the world. So keep a firm grip on the faith. The suffering won’t last forever. It won’t be long before this generous God who has great plans for us in Christ—eternal and glorious plans they are!—will have you put together and on your feet for good. He gets the last word; yes, he does.” — 1 Peter 5:8-11 (The Message)

 

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