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"For a great and effective door has opened to me,
and there are many adversaries."
(1 Corinthians 16:9)
"For this reason I also have been much hindered from coming to you."
(Romans 15:22)
Do you ever feel like the obstacles, hindrances, and adversaries facing you are too much for you to overcome? You may find yourself looking up at a Mount Everest of difficulty, and you really can see no way around it or over it. It could be that you are supposed to go through it.
I was recently introduced to the writings of a former lawyer turned pastor, Carey Nieuwhof, and I think I will really enjoy his writings for years to come. My son, Bryant, mentioned him to me last year. I tried signing up for his online materials, but when I had difficulty getting it, I gave up. I wish I had persisted, because he has much to say today, especially to those of us who are tasked with the heavy responsibility of leading. In a recent blog post addressing the challenge of leading through these days of the coronavirus, he wrote, "You can't motivate your way out of a crisis like this. You have to lead your way through it."
We Christians who desire to walk with God and max out for the glory of God will face difficulties that others will not. Why is that? Simply put, you are a threat to the forces of darkness, and Satan, who is very real, seeks to trip you, hinder you, and set you back. Carnal, complacent Christians are little threat to the forces of darkness, but followers of Jesus with zeal to accomplish all that God wants them to accomplish, they are a true threat.
Think about it: If the Apostle Paul faced prodigious trials and obstacles, then you and I will as well. In our biblical texts for today, notice that Paul did not write that he merely faced adversaries and hindrances; rather, he informs us that he faced "many adversaries" and was "much hindered." You may be asking, "What did Paul do wrong? Surely he must have sinned or upset God because of all the trouble he faced." The answer is not that Paul had done evil things, but he had done right and godly things. His trouble stemmed from the fact that he was in the will of God, not outside the will of God. Paul was known in hell, and when he stepped on the playing field in active service for Christ, he got the attention of the Devil himself.
The greater the return on the investment of your labors, the greater the opposition you will face. I am no Apostle Paul, but I do face internal and external hurdles in my aim to take the Gospel of Jesus Christ to as many people as I can. Serving as a pastor and evangelist in this day and age is not for the faint of heart. You need the hide of an alligator and the heart of a Labrador Retriever in order to thrive and not merely survive in ministry today.
So, how do you and I lead or go through the challenges that are facing us today? In tomorrow's devotion, I will share some practical pointers that have helped me lead through multiple adversaries and hindrances.
For now, keep this thought in mind: the God who called you is greater than the challenges before you.
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