I struggle with this…              

In times when I’m surrounded by an overwhelming amount of weight, pressure and dread…               

I’ll just call it what it is!                 

evil…                  

I let the evil that is around me, overwhelm me; until I am overcome…                 

No wonder why we feel defeated.             

No wonder why I feel subdued, overpowered and prevailed over…              

My words no longer sound like hope.             

My countenance is sad.               

My heart is heavy.               

Just getting out of bed in the morning feels like climbing Mount Everest.                

I let evil have the power to overwhelm me and fill me with the hopeless feeling of defeat.                   

If it were dependent on my strength, I certainly would be completely overcome…                           

GOOD NEWS!      

“These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.””             

‭‭John‬ ‭16‬:‭33‬ ‭NKJV‬‬.                

JESUS

has already OVERCOME what has tried to overcome us!               

“You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.”                     

‭‭I John‬ ‭4‬:‭4‬ ‭NKJV‬‬.                 

He who is in us is greater than he who is in the world!               

Evil tries to steal the hope!               

The evil will try to quench the good, but the good doesn’t need to tap out because Jesus already defeated evil!                  

Evil will try to suffocate us, but we have a defense that never fails!                      

This is beautiful to read, but how do we rest on this scripture confidently?                 

The feelings of defeat may be lies from the enemy, but that doesn’t mean that they aren’t frightening or overwhelming!                      

The hopelessness we feel is not something we should ignore.                             

Rather, we should address these feelings of hopelessness, fear and defeat.                 

How do we rely on the One who is in us instead of believe the lies of this world?                    

How do we overcome the lies in our everyday lives?                          

“Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”                      

‭‭Romans‬ ‭12‬:‭21‬ ‭NKJV‬‬.                

We overcome evil with good!          

If we have the One who holds the victory living in the inside of us, we can overcome whatever tries to overcome us!                         

You may not have the strength or power to combat what’s coming up against you, but

God never said that you won the victory…     

He tells us that He won the victory for us!                 

We can now overcome any weapon that comes against us, not in our strength, but in the LORD’s strength.                           

“What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?”                      

‭‭Romans‬ ‭8‬:‭31‬ ‭NKJV‬‬.                      

“Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.”                       

‭‭Romans‬ ‭8‬:‭37‬ ‭NKJV‬‬.                

We are over-comers through Him who has overcome the enemy for us!                  

We can surely overcome evil!                 

Eleanor Roosevelt once said this…           

“It is better to light a candle than curse the darkness.”                    

This is exactly what it looks like to overcome evil with good!                   

We aren’t to be overwhelmed by the darkness, but rather bring light to the place and cause the darkness to flee.                        

Darkness cannot overpower a light!                  

You can try this at home, yourself.             

Turn on any light in your home, and I promise that the darkness won’t be able to overcome it!               

The light that you bring will overcome the darkness of any room, whether the darkness likes it or not.                                 

You can do the very same thing spiritually!              

We see exactly how to practice shining our light in a dark place in ‭‭Romans‬ ‭12‬:‭9‬-‭20‬ ‭NKJV‬‬.                

“Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good. Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another; not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer; distributing to the needs of the saints, given to hospitality. Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. Be of the same mind toward one another. Do not set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own opinion. Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men. If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men. Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. Therefore “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; If he is thirsty, give him a drink; For in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head.””               

This is how you shine your light in a dark place!                 

This is how to overcome the evil that surrounds you everyday, with good!                      

How can we start practically doing good?                  

‭‭see Hebrews‬ ‭10‬:‭24‬ ‭NKJV‬‬…                               

“And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works,”

You will never prevail if you try to fight darkness with darkness; nor will it benefit you to simply accept the darkness.                       

The only way to overwhelm evil is with good;              

As the only way to overwhelm darkness is with light!            

Don’t be afraid of the dark.                   

If your life is looking dim, with hopelessness and discouragement weighing you down everyday…                        

Don’t just sit in the dark!         

Light a candle!        

Turn on your light!                       

Combat the evils of hopelessness with what is good and true!                     

God’s word holds every match you will ever need to shine light on a dark situation!                 

Don’t believe the lie that you cannot stand up against what is trying to overcome you!                  

You were created to overcome evil with good!                   

God created us to bring light to a dark world!                           

So if you see darkness in your life, don’t let it overwhelm you…                   

This is your moment to shine even brighter!                

 

“For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth), finding out what is acceptable to the Lord. And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them. For it is shameful even to speak of those things which are done by them in secret. But all things that are exposed are made manifest by the light, for whatever makes manifest is light. Therefore He says: “Awake, you who sleep, Arise from the dead, And Christ will give you light.””                   

‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭5‬:‭8‬-‭14‬ ‭NKJV‬‬.