God has given us additional “tools” to utilize to help us turn our sense of flight to faith.

We have His Word! His Word is powerful and living and active. Hebrews 4:12: “For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.”

His Word is filled with promises. Promises of amazing eternal blessings when we hold fast, and overcome through His Spirit’s help.

Please consider the promises Jesus made to the seven churches in Revelation 2-3. Each of these churches faced incredible opposition and testing of their faith. But God, through His Spirit, would help them overcome, as He will with us today.

Got Questions (a Christian website) provides a succinct list of the promises to the seven churches in Revelation. We need to allow these promises to give us hope, and steadfast trust in God as we face life’s challenges:

To the church at Ephesus is presented a promise to him who overcomes that he will be granted to eat from the tree of life in God’s paradise. (Revelation 2:7). 

To the church at Smyrna, the promise to him who overcomes is that he will not be hurt by the second death (Revelation 2:11). 

To the church at Pergamum the overcomer will be given manna from heaven and a white stone with the overcomer’s new name written on it (Revelation 2:17). 

To the church at Thyatira the overcomer is promised to rule with Christ in His kingdom (Revelation 2:26). 

To the church at Sardis the one who overcomes will be clothed in white garments and will not have his name erased from the book of life; further, Jesus will confess his name before the angels and the Father (Revelation 3:5). 

To the church at Philadelphia the overcomer will be a pillar in the temple of God (Revelation 3:12). 

To the church at Laodicea the one who overcomes will sit with Christ on His throne (Revelation 3:21). 

Another tool is prayer! The ability to talk to God, and to hear Him. 

We also have the Body of Christ! We are connected, by God’s Spirit, with every other follower of Jesus!  Our brothers and sisters in Christ are another powerful tool God has provided to help us walk in faith, and not to flee when life appears overwhelming.

It is not Biblical to think that this life will be trouble-free. Jesus clearly told us it would entail hardship and suffering. 

But Jesus showed us how to remain steadfast in following our God, and not to flee! His victory proves He will carry us victoriously through the trials, and safely into His loving arms. We must resist the pull toward hopelessness and despair when we are overwhelmed by the sinfulness of this world. 

Whether we are persecuted, mocked, ridiculed, or disowned for our faith, Jesus is with us. In the same way His trust in His Father carried Him to the cross, and brought Him victoriously from the grave, He will powerfully help us. 

We need to fight the desire to flee, and walk in faith, knowing that one day, we will experience the amazing victory over this sin-laden world.

We must fix our eyes upon Jesus.

We must allow God to renew our minds with His Word, His thoughts.

We must allow God to build our faith.

We must allow God to comfort us.

We must allow God to have His way in and about us.

That is the life of faith. So much easier to say and write, but God will give those who walk by faith the victory.

How great is your desire to be with Jesus? Resist the desire to flee, and be one who overcomes, through His powerful Spirit’s help. This will give you assurance that you truly belong to Him.

Please contact me so we can discuss your eternal destination. You can reach me at: ButGodCares@gmail.com. 

Living for Jesus, Donna

P.S. If this has helped you, please feel free to share it with others!

Note: If the verses for Bible references do not appear when you hover over them, go directly to the website, and they should appear for you. Also, please remember to look at the full context of the verses by reading the complete passage.

Copyright 2024 Donna Shappy   All rights reserved.  No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means – electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or any other – without the prior permission of the author.