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What do you do when you get blindsided? What do you do when life's challenges hit you with a blow that causes you to think, I just can't take this, and leaves you asking…what do I do now?  Step into your place as a world-overcoming believer, enforcing His victory over the devil’s attempts to ravage those around you with his fear. Put your faith on the line. Stop the fear and believe only. In Christ, you’re not the victim. You are the victor!

Maybe it's one more thing added to the list of challenges you face just making it through the day—the dog dies, the washing machine breaks, you had to change a flat just to get to work, now you're late and you forgot the car needs gas. Or maybe it is the impact of events that threatens your future—the stock market crashes, the value of your retirement account has plummeted or your marriage is under attack.

What do you do when you get blindsided? What do you do when life's challenges hit you with a blow that causes you to think, I just can't take this, and leaves you asking…what do I do now?

Certainly the Apostle Paul faced challenges that could have caused him to ask this question often. But in every case he came out victoriously, testifying: "We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed" (2 Cor. 4:8-9). What do we do to move our thinking from, I just can't take it to saying, as Paul did, "None of these things move me" (Acts 20:24)?

The first step is the same as the command Jesus gave Jairus, who had come to Jesus on behalf of his sick daughter. Before they could go to her, Jairus received word the girl had died. Jesus responded to that report with the same words He gives you and me today. He told Jairus: "Fear not: believe only." No matter what we, our nation or the world are facing, the first step out of it is always the same: Stop the fear.

Fear not—believe only. The Bible does not say it just once or twice. From cover to cover this command is given wherever fear might seek entrance into our thoughts and our words. Always, our first step of action is to stop the fear and choose faith.

How Do You Stop the Fear?
Too often, when surprised by something, we're quick to say, "Where were You, God?" or "Well, it doesn't look like You're going to do anything…I guess it's all over." That's what happened with much of Jairus' family.

While he yet spake, there cometh one from the ruler of the synagogue's house, saying to him, Thy daughter is dead; trouble not the Master. But when Jesus heard it, he answered him, saying, Fear not: believe only, and she shall be made whole. And when he came into the house, he suffered no man to go in, save Peter, and James, and John, and the father and the mother of the maiden.

And all wept, and bewailed her: but he said, Weep not; she is not dead, but sleepeth. And they laughed him to scorn, knowing that she was dead. And he put them all out, and took her by the hand, and called, saying, Maid, arise. And her spirit came again, and she arose straightway: and he commanded to give her meat.
(Luke 8:49-55)
You can see by the words of the messenger what had captured their thinking: "Thy daughter is dead; trouble not the Master [the Rabbi]." Well, if you think you're going to trouble the Master by death, then you don't know Him very well. You don't know this Rabbi if you think bad news is going to trouble Him. The only trouble He has with it is if you let it get to you and say something like, "Well, I guess it's too late."

That's what Jairus' relatives were doing. When Jesus arrived at the house, the family was in an uproar—weeping and wailing. They were so convinced the situation was beyond Jesus' ability to help that when He said to them, "Weep not; she is not dead, but sleepeth," they laughed.

To remove the fear and grief, Jesus had to take over the house and run that unbelieving bunch out. Then He filled the room with faith, and raised the girl up. Think what that must have been like. We can imagine Uncle Fred, Aunt Minnie and the others leaving the house mumbling, "Who does that preacher think He is? Doesn't He know that's my little niece in there?"

Don't you know those attitudes changed when Jairus' family came back and the girl was sitting at the table eating? You'll face the same thing. Your relatives and neighbors may call you crazy when you don't join in with their negative complaining about the dire forecasts of the future. But they won't be so critical when they see you come through those hard times with a smile on your face. Instead, you'll be the one some of them call the next time things go wrong.

Step into your place as a world-overcoming believer, enforcing His victory over the devil's attempts to ravage those around you with his fear. Put your faith on the line. Stop the fear and believe only. You will be made whole. You will walk out of that financial trap, out of that hospital room, out of that family situation. You will walk out free. In Christ, you're not the victim. You are the victor!

Excerpt permission granted by
Eagle Mountain International Church, Inc.
aka: Kenneth Copeland Ministries

Author Biography

Kenneth Copeland
Web site: Kenneth Copeland Ministries
 
For the last 50 years Kenneth and Gloria Copeland have been passionately teaching Christians all over the world how to apply the principles of faith found in God’s WORD to their lives.
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