Warriors for the Faith, Series 3, Lesson 3: When the Battle Hurts

Authorized Sword Ministries

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Where We Left Off

Last time we talked about being salt and light where we work. Today is Lesson Three. It's called "When the Battle Hurts."

Warriors get wounded. Some battles are on the outside, and some are in the body, in the mind, or in the heart. Suffering is not a sign that God has left you.

Our Key Verse

Paul asked the Lord to take away a thorn in the flesh. The Lord answered him:

"And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness.…"
— 2 Corinthians 12:9 (KJV)

Grace is enough, even when the thorn stays. Paul learned to glory in weakness, so that the power of Christ might rest upon him.

Job Worshipped, and Hannah Was Heard

Job lost almost everything in a single stretch of days. His first recorded words after the news came were worship:

"…the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD."
— Job 1:21 (KJV)

Later he said something even harder:

"Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him…"
— Job 13:15 (KJV)

That is not pretend cheerfulness. That is faith when it hurts.

Hannah, in Series Two, poured out a bitter soul before the Lord and was heard. The psalmist gives a promise to every broken heart, a man's or a woman's:

"The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit."
— Psalm 34:18 (KJV)

You do not have to tidy up your pain before you come to Him. He is already nigh.

Do Not Think It Strange

Peter wrote to suffering believers:

"Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy."
— 1 Peter 4:12-13 (KJV)

Paul told Timothy:

"Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ."
— 2 Timothy 2:3 (KJV)

And Jesus told the truth ahead of time:

"These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world."
— John 16:33 (KJV)

The hurt is real. The peace is in Him, not in the world getting easier.

What We Can Hold Onto

"And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose."
— Romans 8:28 (KJV)

"For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us."
— Romans 8:18 (KJV)

"For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;"
— 2 Corinthians 4:17 (KJV)

As an application, we may not see the good today. We can still trust the God who will one day make the glory outweigh the pain.

Closing Thought

A warrior for the faith endures hardness, not because we are strong, but because His grace is sufficient and He is nigh unto the broken heart. Next time, in our last lesson, we'll see that we are not meant to fight this battle alone.

Let Us Pray

Lord, Your grace is sufficient for us. Be near every broken heart. Help us endure hardness as good soldiers of Jesus Christ, and keep our eyes on the glory to come. In Jesus' name, amen.

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