How can we trust God more fully in times of external threats or challenges? When the Enemy Keeps Showing Up “Whenever the Israelites planted crops, the Midianites, Amalekites, and the people of the East would attack them.” – Judges 6:3 • The verse records a repeated, concrete threat—raiders stealing harvests year after year. • Scripture recounts this history precisely; the oppression was real, the fear tangible. • God’s Word does not gloss over hardship, yet consistently reveals His faithfulness within it. Why God Allows the Pressure • To expose misplaced confidence (Judges 6:1–2; Deuteronomy 8:17) • To draw His people back to wholehearted dependence (Psalm 34:17–19) • To showcase His power through human weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9) • To prepare hearts for deliverance that brings Him glory alone (Judges 7:2) Gideon’s Journey from Fear to Faith 1. Reality of the threat: hiding in a winepress (Judges 6:11) 2. Divine reminder of identity: “The LORD is with you, mighty warrior” (Judges 6:12) 3. Honest dialogue with God (Judges 6:13, 17) 4. Obedient first step at home—tearing down the Baal altar (Judges 6:25–27) 5. Incremental trust as God reduced the army to 300 men (Judges 7:2–7) 6. Final assurance: enemy’s dream confirming victory (Judges 7:13–15) Steps to Deeper Trust amid Today’s Threats • Remember past deliverances. Keep a written record like Israel’s memorial stones (Joshua 4:7). • Refuse to define God by the size of the opposition; define the opposition by the size of God (1 Samuel 17:45–47). • Practice immediate, specific obedience in the small things—often the pathway to larger victories (Luke 16:10). • Replace anxious replay with Scripture replay: – Psalm 46:1 – “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.” – Isaiah 26:3 – “You will keep in perfect peace the steadfast of mind, because he trusts in You.” • Surround yourself with faith-filled voices; Gideon heard fear vanquished only after hearing the Midianite’s dream (Judges 7:13–15; Hebrews 10:24–25). Promises to Anchor Your Heart • Proverbs 3:5–6 – “Trust in the LORD with all your heart… He will make your paths straight.” • Romans 8:28 – “God works all things together for the good of those who love Him.” • Philippians 4:6–7 – “The peace of God… will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” • 1 Peter 5:7 – “Cast all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you.” • Psalm 20:7 – “Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God.” Daily Habits that Strengthen Trust • Begin mornings in the Word before you meet the world. • Speak verses aloud; faith comes by hearing (Romans 10:17). • Fast from fear‐feeding inputs—news cycles, negative speculation. • Journal evidence of God’s provision; revisit entries when new threats arise. • Engage in corporate worship; shared praise recalibrates perspective (Psalm 73:16–17). • Serve someone else; outward focus lifts eyes from the enemy to the Redeemer. Living the Lesson When challenges invade like Midian, Scripture invites you to meet them as Gideon did—honestly, but under the unshakable assurance that the Lord is with you. Each fresh threat becomes an opportunity to plant a deeper root of trust, watch God’s faithfulness unfold, and declare with confidence: “The battle belongs to the LORD” (1 Samuel 17:47). |
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