PLEASE ASK FOR ASSISTANCE
OVERCOME THE OBSTACLES TO ENCOUNTER AN OPPORTUNITY
2 Corinthians 11:23-31, 23 “Are they servants of Christ? I know I sound like a madman, but I have served him far more! I have worked harder, been put in prison more often, been whipped times without number, and faced death again and again. 24 Five different times the Jewish leaders gave me thirty-nine lashes. 25 Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked. Once I spent a whole night and a day adrift at sea. 26 I have traveled on many long journeys. I have faced danger from rivers and from robbers. I have faced danger from my own people, the Jews, as well as from the Gentiles. I have faced danger in the cities, in the deserts, and on the seas. And I have faced danger from men who claim to be believers but are not.[c] 27 I have worked hard and long, enduring many sleepless nights. I have been hungry and thirsty and have often gone without food. I have shivered in the cold, without enough clothing to keep me warm. 28 Then, besides all this, I have the daily burden of my concern for all the churches. 29 Who is weak without my feeling that weakness? Who is led astray, and I do not burn with anger? 30 If I must boast, I would rather boast about the things that show how weak I am. 31 God, the Father of our Lord Jesus, who is worthy of eternal praise, knows I am not lying.”
Paul’s second letter to the church at Corinth speaks of overcoming obstacles to encounter opportunity. He, more than anyone besides Jesus, encountered obstacles at every turn. But Paul did not allow these obstacles to deter him from his calling to spread the Gospel. Just as Paul did, we too can trust God to meet us and help us to overcome any obstacle the enemy places in our path to try to keep us from the encounters and opportunities that God has for us.
Isaiah 54:17, 17 “But in that coming day
no weapon turned against you will succeed.
You will silence every voice
raised up to accuse you.
These benefits are enjoyed by the servants of the Lord;
their vindication will come from me.
I, the Lord, have spoken!”
Through the words of Isaiah, we are assured that no weapon that is turned against us will succeed. God will vindicate us; His strength will see us through any obstacle that is placed in front of us. But it is up to us to emulate Paul and not rely on our own strength, but in Christ’s strength in us.
Psalm 138:6-8, 6 “Though the Lord is great, he cares for the humble,
but he keeps his distance from the proud. 7 Though I am surrounded by troubles,
you will protect me from the anger of my enemies.
You reach out your hand,
and the power of your right hand saves me.
8 The Lord will work out his plans for my life—
for your faithful love, O Lord, endures forever.
Don’t abandon me, for you made me.”
David experienced God’s protection and provision in many ways. He knew that God would work out the plans for his life and trusted in that protection. As David shares with us, the Lord’s faithful love endures forever.
GOD IS WITH HIS PEOPLE IN THE OBSTACLES. JESUS HAS ALREADY OVERCOME DEATH AND THE GRAVE. WE CAN REST ON GOD’S PROMISES TO NEVER LEAVE US AND TO HELP US TO OVERCOME ANY OBSTACLE BECAUSE GOD IS CALLING US TO ENCOUNTER OPPORTUNITIES TO SPREAD THE GOSPEL TO THE WORLD AROUND US.
1 John 5:1-5, “Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ[a] has become a child of God. And everyone who loves the Father loves his children, too. 2 We know we love God’s children if we love God and obey his commandments. 3 Loving God means keeping his commandments, and his commandments are not burdensome. 4 For every child of God defeats this evil world, and we achieve this victory through our faith. 5 And who can win this battle against the world? Only those who believe that Jesus is the Son of God.”
If we believe that Jesus is the Christ, God’s son, we are children of God. Our love for God will be evident in our desire to obey His commandments, which are not burdensome, but for the edification of our faith. It is through our faith that we can achieve victory over the powers of this evil world. Belief in Jesus is the path to eternal victory, to overcoming any obstacle and encounter opportunities.
PUTTING THIS INTO PRACTICE
What are some things you see as obstacles that need to be overcome to encounter opportunities in your life?
Are you trying to overcome in your own strength, or God’s? Have you taken time to pray and ask for His direction?
Read Proverbs 3:13-18. What does the author exhort his readers to seek as their guide?
After sitting with the above passage, take some time to write a prayer asking Jesus to help guide you in wisdom to the pathway God has for you to follow and the necessary steps to take to overcome those obstacles in your life.
Read 1 Timothy 2:1-8. How and why does Paul instruct Timothy and all believers to worship?
What is God speaking to you? Pick out one verse in this passage that resonates with what God is speaking to you.
Share this verse with your small group. Why did you select it?
Find another passage in Scripture that carries a similar message.
In John 16, Jesus encourages the disciples to persevere in their faith and to put their trust in the Holy Spirit, who will “guide them into all truth.” Just as we pray to God and to Jesus, we are also called to pray to the third person of the trinity, the Holy Spirit.
Read John 16. Write out what it means for you to pray to the Spirit and ask Him to help you overcome any obstacle that the world throws into your path.
Have you asked God to guide you through the obstacles you are facing in the name of Jesus as it says in verses 23-24? If you haven’t, take this week to practice praying in this way.
Read verse 33 in two different versions. Write out your favorite version and as you step into 2026, cling to the truth that Jesus HAS overcome the world!
