What do these five people have in common? Lisa hugs Tina tightly, whispering reassurances she doesn't fully believe. No matter how hard she tries, she can't make the bullying stop or convince the other kids to see how special her daughter is. Ken, a devoted Christian, feels powerless and defeated as his marriage crumbles.
Every effort to save it has failed, leaving him shattered and uncertain of how to move forward. Teresa collapses onto her bed after another 12 hour workday, guilt ridden for missing her kid's soccer match yet again. She needs her job, but work demands are sucking the life and the joy out of her.
She feels trapped and desperate to break free. Joe sits in the garage, staring at his dad's old tools, the silence pressing in as it grieves the man who is always there to help him through the tough times. He feels lost, empty, and more than a little afraid of doing life without dad.
Enrique feels powerless as he watches his children fall away from the faith and his grandchildren make destructive life choices. His heart is breaking for his family. What do these people have in common? Each of these people are facing adversity against which they feel powerless, helpless to change the situation they face.
We've all been through situations like this and probably will be again. God wants you to know you are not powerless. You've just been living like you are. Let's change that. Jesus told his disciples, in this world you'll have trouble, but take heart. I, uh, have overcome the world. John 16:33.
We're going to struggle in life. It's a fallen world. But Jesus gives every Christian the authority to use his power to overcome that adversity. All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations. This is Matthew 28, verses 18 and 19.
The clear implication is that we're to go in his authority. The key is found in Ephesians 6. Ephesians 6:10 says, finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Jesus is our strength. It's from him that we receive strength and power as Christians. Ephesians 6, 11, 18 goes on and tells us how we recognize.