Troubled But Not Distressed
By
Wanda Payne

 
In 2 Corinthians 4:8-9 we read, “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.”  These verses bring hope to the troubled heart, and yet they can also be seen  as discouraging, too. There have been many times that I have read these verses and left out the most important words of all by only seeing the negative such as: “we are troubled on every side, perplexed, persecuted and cast down.” I have lived in defeat by allowing Satan to blind the most important part of these verses, “Yet not distressed,” “but not in despair,” “but not forsaken,” “but not destroyed.” I have even added my own negative thoughts to these lines such as, “I am forgotten, abandoned, unloved and discarded,” to name a few.
 
Satan is so good at what he does! He is the best at lying, cheating, stealing, tricking, deceiving, conniving, manipulating, and destroying. He destroys our faith, our confidence in God, our marriages, and our families. He can even destroy our lives if we allow him to.  He likes to kick us when we’re down and is notorious for putting us there. He robs us of our joy, peace, love, faith, and happiness so many times; then he tricks us into believing it is hopeless to even try.
 
I don’t know about you but I am sick and tired of being his guinea pig! I am burnt out on being his target and his victim! I have had it with the thief robbing me of my joy, peace, and happiness!  I’m tired of him tricking me into wasting the time I  should be using to serve God moping around, desperately seeking a way up and out of the pit he has managed to trick me into!
 
I am rebelling against the “Rebel” and I am getting back into my rightful place as heir to the throne of my Heavenly Father! I’m through wallowing in the pigsty that I have been pushed into as if I were the prodigal son; and I’m through walking around with my head hung low as if I haven’t  a friend in the world!  I’m going to tell the world about my true friend Jesus Christ; the one who sticks closer than a brother and about Him being the light of the world!
 
Jesus has already won the war against this enemy of ours and best of all; He lives inside of us and will never leave us or forsake us. He will never let us endure more than we can handle and that is a promise in His Word!
 
If you’re going through anything like I have just described; then cheer up! Kick Satan out and put up a “No Trespassing” sign! Stand up to him in the name and character of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ! Through His power we are more than conquerors and by the grace of God we can win!  Jesus has defeated Satan and continues to be a mediator between us and our Father God! He prays on our behalf and releases His power and strength to us through prayer and studying His Word!
Please take time to pray and study God’s Word. These are the most important things we can do! Don’t let the devil trick you into thinking that you don’t have time because he knows he will cheat you out of God’s blessings, reinforcements and fellowship!  He will do anything to keep you away from fellowship with God, even if it means doing God’s work; because he knows how powerful prayer and the Word of God is!  Satan knows prayer is the key to releasing us from the bondage he has on us and how easy it would be to lose his grip on us once we realize the importance of praying!
 
Praise God that He, our Heavenly Father does not want us ignorant of these things! That is why He tells us to… “seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” (Matt 6:33)  We seek God by praying and studying His Word!  That’s how to become warriors for Christ; we become Prayer Warriors!
 
When troubles come our way lets stand together and say; “I am troubled, yet not distressed; I am perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed!” We are brothers and sisters in Christ and what He will do for one He will do for the other!
 
Join me in saying, “Satan, back off! There’s a Cross standing between you and me and it is stained with the crimson, red blood of the only Perfect, Spotless Lamb Jesus Christ! He defeated you and rescued me! You lost!” 
 
I know this is true because I have read the back of the Book; the Living Word called the Bible! It says the truth will set us free and I praise God for the Warrior Lamb Who has truly set us free!