Opposition

op·​po·​si·​tion | \ ˌä-pə-ˈzi-shən  \

: hostile or contrary action or condition
: something that opposes

Opposition comes regularly to those of us who live on planet Earth; occasional instances of resistance to our assignments. It is annoying and irritating, and it is human nature to be unsettled by it. Many times a reminder of the truth can be a helpful pep talk …..

Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me?
Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.
Psalm 42:5

As Christ-followers we know that opposition is part of the walk. Resistance builds strength and endurance, and we often “pull ourselves up by our bootstraps” and carry on, knowing that our God reigns. But have you ever been in a season of opposition when you’ve needed something deeper than a good reminder? A time of continual contending for what you know to be true in the face of a demonstrated lie? A season when it is hard to catch your breath between the hits? Let’s be honest, it is exhausting – frustrating – discouraging – overwhelming – and we usually find that this is when the earnest prayers begin….

My soul is downcast within me;
therefore I will remember you from the land of the Jordan,
the heights of Hermon – from Mount Mizar.
Deep calls to deep in the roar of your waterfalls;
all your waves and breakers have swept over me.
By day the Lord directs his love,
at night his song is with me – a prayer to the God of my life.
Psalm 42:6-8

When we spend longer periods of time fighting for what we know is true – travailing for truth – we discover the God-given grit within us. As we are transparent with the Lord, He gives us a plan. And while we are being honest, let’s also address the fact that it seems like a strange plan. This plan doesn’t look like the battle strategy that we are expecting. No, God’s plan – His battle strategy – is to remember and praise. In the midst of the slug-fest with the enemy, we begin to remember what God has done in the past – His character and promises – and something happens. Renewed faith rises up. As our faith is strengthened, our backs are straightened, and we remind the enemy of our souls who our God is. We declare His goodness and faithfulness out loud. We bear down in a oh-no-you-don’t kind of belief that summons strength we forgot, or didn’t even know, we had. With each memory and declaration, we put our hope in God, praise Him, and KNOW THAT OUR GOD REIGNS with a deeper conviction.

In pure transparency, I have been in a season of opposition for what feels like a very long time and I suspect I’m not alone. Most days I am able to recognize that my battle is against principalities, powers, darkness, and wickedness. But on other days, well, I’m short-sighted and find myself focusing on the people and situations rather than my Father who IS and HOLDS the victory. After all, it is His presence with me in this long season that is the blessing, not necessarily the circumstances turning in my favor.

Have you found yourself in a similar pattern? Feeling overwhelmed by the magnitude of one more thing being added to your shoulders? Let me encourage you to remind your soul of the Lord’s waterfalls that roar with the calls of deep to deep. Allow His waves of truth and refreshing to sweep over you, fully engulfing your weariness and giving you renewed faith in Him. Allow Him to demonstrate His love for you by day and sing over you at night. This is our prayer to the God of our lives. And His loving response will always be…

You are adored.