Suddenly, the walls of Jericho collapsed, and the Israelites charged straight into the town and captured it. (Joshua 6 v 20 NLT)
Did you ever feel like every time you try to do something you hit a brick wall … or even worse … brick walls seem to be erected just to block your progress? It just seems like every road you take there is opposition. Just when you think you are making progress you come up against another brick wall!
If you are like me, in your drive to move things forward, it may even seem that you have been hit on the head by one, or more, of those bricks from that wall!
Steve Jobs, the founder of Apple, must have experienced this as well but he offered great advice:
“Sometimes life hits you on the head with a brick. Don’t lose faith”.
Now that’s the truth!
You are not alone.
There are seasons in life we face when it seems like nothing is going right. You are doing all that you know to do, both practically and spiritually, but there seems to be no progress. Regardless of what you do nothing seems to work. Even those you thought were standing with you begin to have doubts and walk away. It just seems like God has abandoned you.
Although we know that God says that He will never leave us or forsake us, at times it can seem like He too has walked away. It’s at times like these that the enemy will sow thoughts of fear and failure into your heart.
Charles Stanley, the great Baptist preacher and father of Pastor Andy Stanley, said:
‘Our heavenly Father understands our disappointment, suffering, pain, fear, and doubt. He is always there to encourage our hearts and help us understand that He’s sufficient for all of our needs.’
Leaders who have walked this way for centuries have faced the same tactics that you may be facing right now. Doubt, fear, loneliness and despair are all bricks in a wall that the enemy builds designed to block your view of the great things that God has for you. Be aware of his tactics. He wants to rob you of your ability to see the goodness of God.
The enemy is defeated
The good news is that the enemy is defeated. Jesus defeated the enemy once and for all at the cross. Yet he still tries the same old tactics in the hope that we will be blinded by the brick walls he erects rather than seeing the grace and favour God has placed upon our lives.
Walls fall when we worship: the walls of Jericho fell when the children of Israel praised God, even when there seemed to be no way through. God’s instruction to praise him shifted the Israelites focus from the greatness of their enemy to the greatness of their God.
So, we need to shift our focus off the problems we face, that have mounted up like a brick wall, and refocus on the promises of God that stand for ever. As we continue to praise God the walls we face will fall.
Father, we apply the eyes of faith today to the situations we face. We choose to see that You are with us, even when others may flee. We choose to believe that the walls the enemy has built are coming down. We put on the garments of faith and declare victory today, in Jesus. Amen