The struggle

The struggle

Bible:Ephesians 6:10-20

Reading

Our struggle is . . . against the powers of this dark world (V.12).

In 1896, an explorer named Carl Akely was in a remote section of Ethiopia. He was also being chased by an 80-pound leopard. He remembered the leopard pouncing, trying “to sink her teeth into my throat.” She missed, snagging his right arm with her vicious jaws. The two rolled in the sand—a long, fierce struggle. Akely weakened, and “it became a question of who would give up
first.” Summoning his last bit of strength, Akely was able to suffocate the big cat with simply his bare hands. In the Bible, Paul explained how each of us who trust Jesus will face our own fierce struggles at some point; those times when we feel overwhelmed and just want to give it all up. Instead, we must “stand firm” and take our “stand against the devil’s schemes” (EPHESIANS 6:11,14). Rather than crumbling as we see our weaknesses and issues, Paul challenged us to step forward with our confidence in God, remembering that we don’t rely on our own courage and strength but in His. “Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power,” he wrote (V.10). In the
challenges we face, He’s only a prayer away (V.18). Yes, we have many struggles, and we will never escape them by our own power or abilities. But God is more powerful than any enemy or evil we will ever face.

WHEN THE STRUGGLE IS REAL, GOD IS OUR SAFETY.

Youth Edition – Our Daily Bread Ministries