“Maintaining Your Victory in the Midst of Discomfort Pt. 2”
True spiritual victory is not something believers work toward, but rather a reality already secured by faith in the finished works of Jesus Christ. When facing tribulation, distress, or discomfort, the challenge is not to gain victory, but to learn how to maintain the victory that Jesus died to obtain.
Many people mistakenly attribute all pain or trouble in life to the devil, often attempting to “bind the devil” without understanding the deeper purpose behind their struggles. However, the Bible teaches that believers who live godly lives will suffer persecution and have tribulation in this world.
The core message for overcoming life’s trials is shifting focus from effort to acceptance: God’s love, favor, and blessing are gifts already given, not rewards to be earned.
1. The Purpose of Pain: Refinement and Maturity
Discomfort, pain, and tribulation appear to have a direct purpose in the lives of believers: to help them mature, grow, and become conformed into the image of Jesus Christ.
Pain as a Spiritual Mirror
Discomfort and pain serve as a mirror held up to the soul, revealing who you really are, not who you merely think you are. It is easy to quote scriptures and talk about faith when life is comfortable, but true resilience is tested when tribulation comes.
God’s plan is for believers to see growth and maturity after every challenge. Just as a student must pass a test, if you keep running away from trouble, you may have to keep taking that test over and over again until you learn the wisdom needed to grow out of it.
The greatest demonstration of God’s power and love was not through sermons or miracles, but through His suffering on the cross. Therefore, when confronted by struggles, the believer is called to stand up against it, recognizing that “This too will pass”.
Developing Strength Through Resistance
When trouble comes, it must be resisted. While much trouble originates from the devil, God knows how to use these attacks for development since maturity is required anyway.
Spiritual growth is achieved in the resistance, not just in passively putting up with persecution. Resisting challenges builds strength, develops wisdom, and causes spiritual maturity. Resistance is key; simply enduring persecution without fighting back will not result in strength.
2. Maintaining Victory: The Good Fight of Faith
The “good fight of faith” is defined as the effort to maintain the victory already obtained by Jesus. The enemy throws darts to try and cause the believer to stop believing the promise or the victory.
What Defines the Fight
A “good fight” is one that you win. The victory that overcomes the world is our faith. This faith is specifically focused on the finished works of Jesus Christ. Victory is already present simply by having faith in the grace and completed work of the Lord Jesus Christ.
To fight the good fight of faith means embracing and holding onto the word of God and the belief in what Jesus has obtained. This involves practical, everyday actions.
Practical Steps to Maintain Your Stance
Maintaining your victory requires an active stance, even when circumstances look grim (such as facing a serious illness like cancer):
- Embrace and Articulate Your Identity: Embrace what you believe, such as, “I believe I’m the righteousness of God“. This stance must be verbalized, often by using your mouth to praise God for what you believe you are.
- Repent and Reaffirm: When temptation or failure occurs, the boldness of faith allows you to say, “Lord forgive me for that, and I’m still the righteousness of God“.
- Stand Firm: Your victory is found in maintaining your stance—holding on to the belief in God’s finished work through every stage of discomfort, pain, or trial.
3. Submission and Alignment: The Key to Deliverance
True effectiveness in the Christian life requires submitting oneself to God, which is defined as humility.
Humility is Agreement
Humility means agreeing with what God tells you to do, rather than choosing to do what you want. When you submit yourself to God, you align yourself with what He says (for example, aligning with the declaration, “I’m healed,” if God says it).
As James 4:7 states, believers are commanded to humble yourselves before God and then resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
Relationship Over Religion
Christianity cannot be efficient or effective without a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Christianity based on coming to church and following a set of new laws is merely religion that keeps you in bondage.
Developing an intimate relationship with Christ means:
- Waking up and talking to Jesus daily.
- Trusting the Holy Spirit to teach you things you haven’t even read in the Bible yet.
- The Holy Spirit works internally, instructing and training the believer on a day-to-day basis.
- When trouble strikes, conversations with God do not need to be fancy; a simple cry like “Lord help” is enough, and God will answer.
A life of true faith means getting rid of the mindset that says, “If you don’t do this, this, and this, then God ain’t going to be able to bless you”. This mindset fails to recognize that God is the God of mercy and grace, who will do something for you that you do not deserve, and that goodness changes your mind about Him.