Evil can come at us from almost anywhere—sometimes from the people closest to us. And when we’re mistreated, betrayed, attacked, or sinned against repeatedly, everything in us may want to fight back.
We may use anger, retaliation, the silent treatment, gossip, bitterness, manipulation, or simply determine to make the other person pay.
But God commands us to overcome evil in a radically different way.
His answer isn’t weakness or pretending sin doesn’t matter. Neither does it mean allowing someone to abuse us without consequences. Instead, God gives us a powerful weapon that runs completely contrary to our natural inclinations: “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”
Today we’ll look at three women who faced painful, difficult circumstances and chose, imperfectly but faithfully, to respond God’s way. Their stories had remarkable endings. Ours may or may not. But God’s command and His promise remain the same.
We’ll also talk about what it means to have a steadfast heart and how trusting God can help us remain faithful even when our circumstances don’t change.
Recently we’ve talked about how to pull down strongholds, how to have God’s peace and stability in challenging times, persecution and why the world hates Christians, reasons God allows us to go through hardships, presumptuous sin, the gospel of grace, handling money wisely, thinking seriously about eternity, and so much more.
Do you have any difficult people in your life? Most of us do. Is there someone that God has not changed (even though you have been praying and praying) … and it’s hard? So, how does God want us to respond to them?
Last week in “Blended Families Part 13: Differences Between Households,” we began looking at ways to deal with the different rules and expectations between your household and that of your ex in a God-honoring way. We looked at how to evaluate whether or not to make an issue out of any situation and began talking about how to respond when you ex isn’t willing to work on issues. This week we’ll discuss more ways we can seek to live in peace and solve problems.
Is there really one verse that could change your marriage forever? Could it change other relationships, as well? I believe there is! First, let me say that knowing this verse won’t change your marriage. Even memorizing this verse...
Philippians 1.6 being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ.
What a great promise! We can be confident, not in ourselves that we’ll somehow make it to the end, but if we belong to Him, He will finish the work He has started in us. God Himself is the guarantor of His promises.
