Where Do We Get the Power to Keep Going?

In 2 Corinthians 4:9 it says, “We get knocked down, but we get up again and keep going.” (TLB)

If you’ve ever been at a race, then you’ve heard spectators shout, “Keep going!” to motivate the athletes. That’s also great advice for anyone who feels emotionally, mentally, or spiritually exhausted from running the marathon of life: Keep going!

Scripture includes many examples of people who had determination to keep going in the face of opposition, including Jesus and Paul.

Jesus faced constant opposition. Religious and political leaders intimidated him. They tried to stop his ministry by telling him that King Herod wanted to kill him.

But Jesus said to them, “Go tell that fox that I will keep on casting out demons and healing people today and tomorrow; and the third day I will accomplish my purpose. Yes, today, tomorrow, and the next day I must proceed on my way” (Luke 13:32-33 NLT).

Nothing was going to stop Jesus from accomplishing his purposes—not fear, opposition, or criticism. He was resilient and had the endurance to keep on keeping on.

Paul also faced obstacles that threatened to slow him down. In 2 Corinthians 4:8-9, he said, “We are pressed on every side by troubles, but not crushed and broken. We are perplexed because we don’t know why things happen as they do, but we don’t give up and quit. We are hunted down, but God never abandons us. We get knocked down, but we get up again and keep going” (TLB).

Maybe that sounds familiar, because you feel like troubles are coming at you from many directions. You’re tired and worn out, and you don’t think you’ll make it to the finish line.

So how do I keep going?

I get the power to keep going from the same place Jesus and Paul got it: from God.

“We can only keep on going, after all, by the power of God, who first saved us and then called us to this holy work” (2 Timothy 1:8-9 MSG).

God doesn’t expect me to fulfill my purpose and do his will in my own power. First, he saved me, and then he gives me the power for daily living. He will give me everything I need to keep going and finish what he has called me to do.

Paul reminds us that though we may think we are at the end of our rope, we are never at the end of our hope. Our perishable bodies are subject to sin and suffering, but God never abandons us. Because Christ has won the victory over death, we have eternal life. All of our risks, humiliations, and trials are opportunities for Christ to demonstrate his power and presence in and through us. Like Paul, we must carry out our ministries, looking to God for strength. When opposition, slander, or disappointment threaten to rob you of the victory, remember that no one can destroy what God has accomplished through you. 

Do Good to Those Who Oppose You

In Luke 6:27-29 it says, “Love your enemies! Do good to those who hate you. Bless those who curse you. Pray for those who hurt you. If someone slaps you on one cheek, offer the other cheek also. If someone demands your coat, offer your shirt also.” (NLT)

What I’m learning is that when I’m persecuted, harassed, or facing opposition, I need to respond with a blessing.

Jesus says in Luke 6:27-29, “Love your enemies! Do good to those who hate you. Bless those who curse you. Pray for those who hurt you. If someone slaps you on one cheek, offer the other cheek also. If someone demands your coat, offer your shirt also” (NLT).

Who does that? Not many people, actually. But that kind of response is what sets Christ followers apart—because it’s not natural, popular, or easy.

It takes a lot of courage to do those things! Anyone can retaliate or say something mean. But it takes a lot of courage to respond with a blessing.

God wants me to love my enemies, do good to those who hate me, bless those who curse me, pray for those who hurt me, and turn the other cheek. Is that easy? No. But it’s the most powerful form of witness—and I can do it only by being filled with God’s love.

The movie The Butler shows how the Freedom Riders, who fought racism in the South during the Civil Rights Movement, trained people how to not retaliate when they were hit, spit on, cursed, or pushed, or when people threw food at them. It’s an intensely powerful scene of taking a nonviolent stance.

When I refuse to retaliate and instead respond in love at work or with somebody who doesn’t like me, God will be pleased. And I’m going to be blessed.

Jesus said, “God blesses those who are persecuted for doing right, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs. God blesses you when people mock you and persecute you and lie about you and say all sorts of evil things against you because you are my followers. Be happy about it! Be very glad! For a great reward awaits you in heaven” (Matthew 5:10-12 NLT).

Jesus paid a price for me. And he says there’s a price to be paid for following him. As a Christ follower, popularity on Earth is not a guarantee—but my reward in heaven is a guarantee. 

Three Things to Remember When I'm Opposed

In Matthew 5:10-12 I read, “God blesses those who are persecuted for doing right, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs. God blesses you when people mock you and persecute you and lie about you and say all sorts of evil things against you because you are my followers. Be happy about it! Be very glad! For a great reward awaits you in heaven.” (NLT)

When feeling pressured by the world because I love Jesus and others don’t, I need to keep in mind three things:

1. Opposition can make me more like Jesus.

Jesus says in John 15:18-20, “If the world hates you, remember that it hated me first. The world would love you as one of its own if you belonged to it, but you are no longer part of the world. I chose you to come out of the world, so it hates you. Do you remember what I told you? ‘A slave is not greater than the master.’ Since they persecuted me, naturally they will persecute you. And if they had listened to me, they would listen to you” (NLT).

If I’m going to mature and be like Jesus Christ, I’ll have to go through the things Jesus went through, including loneliness, discouragement, stress, and temptation. Why would God spare me when he didn’t spare his own Son from those things?

2. Opposition will deepen my faith.

Faith is like a muscle. A muscle won’t grow when I sit in a chair and eat chips. A muscle grows by being stretched, strained, and tested. I’m never going to grow a muscle if no weight is ever pulling in the opposite direction.

So, if I’m not seeing opposition in my life, my faith is not growing. The strongest believers in the world right now are those who are having their faith tested the most. The Bible says in 1 Peter 1:7, “These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold—though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world” (NLT).

3. Opposition will lead to eternal rewards.

Matthew 5:10-12 says, “God blesses those who are persecuted for doing right, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs. God blesses you when people mock you and persecute you and lie about you and say all sorts of evil things against you because you are my followers. Be happy about it! Be very glad! For a great reward awaits you in heaven” (NLT). 

God will bless everyone who’s persecuted for living for him. But notice that it doesn’t mean that I’ll get rewarded for being rude or obnoxious. If I live a self-righteous life when I get persecuted, I’m not a martyr; I’m just a fool. 

I don’t get rewarded for being rude. I get rewarded for being like Jesus. When I live out my faith, do it with gentleness and respect, just like Jesus, and then I will be rewarded for it one day in heaven.

Whenever I’m harassed for my faith, remember these three things: Opposition can make me more like Jesus, deepen my faith, and lead to eternal rewards in heaven.

When Opposed, Learn to Choose Worship over Worry

In review of 1 Peter 3:14-15 it tells me that “If I suffer for doing what is right, God will reward me for it. So don’t worry or be afraid of their threats. Instead, I must worship Christ as Lord of my life. And if someone asks about my hope as a believer, I should always be ready to explain it” (NLT).

I have been one who believes that faith is a personal matter that should somewhat be kept to oneself. While its true that I shouldn't be boisterous or obnoxious in sharing my faith, I should always be ready to give an answer, gently and respectfully, when asked about my faith, lifestyle, or my perspective. Can others see my hope in Christ? Am I prepared to tell them what Christ has done in my life?

It turns out that Christianity is not for weaklings, wimps, or the faint of heart. It takes courageous men and women to follow Jesus.

People all over the world are suffering like we in the United States will never suffer. But what is it costing me to follow Christ? It’s unlikely I’ll ever face violent oppression. But I deal with silent repression every single day as the culture becomes more and more secularized and anti-Christian.

No matter where I’m from, when I’m faced with opposition because of my faith, it’s natural to feel afraid. So how do I get rid of the fear of opposition? How do I get rid of the fear of disapproval? How do I get rid of the fear of being rejected?

I need to be filled with God’s love. The Bible says that there’s no fear in love and that perfect love casts out all fear. When I face opposition, I focus on God’s love for me. People who rest in the assurance of God’s love aren’t afraid of rejection. They aren’t afraid of disapproval.

The Bible says in 1 Peter 3:14-15, “If you suffer for doing what is right, God will reward you for it. So don’t worry or be afraid of their threats. Instead, you must worship Christ as Lord of your life. And if someone asks about your hope as a believer, always be ready to explain it” (NLT).

There are two choices when I feel pressured to be quiet about my faith in Christ: I can worry, or I can worship. That means either I panic or I pray. Either I focus on the problem and the pressure and persecution, or I focus on God.

I have to turn my attention away from the pressure I feel and turn my focus toward God. That’s what worship is, focusing on God. When I face opposition, worship instead of worry.

In summary, If I suffer for doing what's right, God will reward me for it. Don't worry about threats. Worship Christ as Lord. If someone asks about my hope, always be ready to explain it.  Can others see my hope? Am I prepared to tell them what Christ has done in my life? It's unlikely that I'll ever face violent oppression. However I do deal with silent repression every day as the culture becomes more and more secularized and anti-Christian. When I face opposition, it's natural to feel afraid. To combat this, I need to be filled with and focus on God's love for me. I have two choices when I face pressure, I can worry and focus on the problem or I can focus and worship God. When I face opposition, worship instead of worry. 

Today’s passage reminds me to do what’s right and not worry or be afraid of other’s treats for doing it. I should continue to worship Christ as Lord. If someone asks about my hope, be ready to explain it. I pray Father that this morning you send your Spirit to help me to do what is right, regardless of what others say or may think. I ask for your help to turn worry and fear into worship and trust. I also ask that you provide guidance and wisdom for my day. I ask these things in your Son Jesus name, amen.

Who’s the Real Source of Opposition In My Life

In review of 2 Timothy 2:25-26 it says, “Be humble when you correct people who oppose you . . . They have been trapped by the devil, and he makes them obey him, but God may help them escape” (CEV).

2 Timothy 2:24-26

A servant of the Lord must not quarrel but must be kind to everyone, be able to teach, and be patient with difficult people. Gently instruct those who oppose the truth. Perhaps God will change those people’s hearts, and they will learn the truth. Then they will come to their senses and escape from the devil’s trap. For they have been held captive by him to do whatever he wants.

Paul's advice to me (like Timothy) is to be kind and gentle, patiently and courteously explaining the truth. Good teaching never promotes quarrels or foolish arguments. When I am teaching, remember to listen to people's questions and treat them respectfully, while avoiding foolish debates. If I do this, those who do oppose will be more willing to hear what I have to say and perhaps turn from their error.

When I face opposition because of my faith, I need to recognize its source.

It’s not other people. It’s not your coworkers. It’s not a political party. It’s not some other nation or religion. It’s not a competitor. The pressure I feel to cave in or be quiet or sit down when you should stand up, that pressure is not coming from other people. It’s really coming from Satan.

In Revelation 12:10 Satan is called the accuser of the Christians. His number one job is to put me down.

I’m reminded this morning that there is an unseen spiritual battle going on all around me. This pressure to keep me from doing the right thing is not really coming from others. They’re just weapons. Most of the time they don’t even know they’re being used. The real issue is spiritual warfare.

Ephesians 6:12 says, “We are not fighting against human beings but against the wicked spiritual forces in the heavenly world” (GNT).

Satan knows it’s ineffective to attack Jesus Christ directly, so instead he attacks Jesus’ followers. He uses the media and music and popular culture and anything he can to ridicule those who belong to Jesus. He’s behind the voices saying, “Those Christians are out of date. They’re on the wrong side of history. They don’t know what they’re talking about. They’re bigots.”

The Bible says I should: “Stay away from stupid and senseless arguments. These only lead to trouble, and God’s servants must not be troublemakers. They must be kind to everyone, and they must be good teachers and very patient. Be humble when you correct people who oppose you . . . They have been trapped by the devil, and he makes them obey him, but God may help them escape” (2 Timothy 2:23-26 CEV).

If I don’t have the Holy Spirit in your life, then I have no defense against Satan. He can master my moods. He can lead me into depression. He can make me angry.

I may think I’m strong, but I’m not strong enough to fight Satan’s attacks on my own. What I need to do is recognize the source—the Devil, not the person—and treat the opposition the way Jesus did.

How did Jesus treat those who opposed him? Even on the cross he said, “Father, forgive them. They don’t know what they’re doing.”

The people who attack me don’t know what they’re doing. The people who put down Jesus and church and Christianity? They don’t know what they’re doing.

Just like Jesus, I need to pray, too, “Father, forgive them” so that I can show love even under attack and so I’ll have more energy to fight the real enemy.

Bottom Line:

Be gentle in your approach to those who oppose the truth. Perhaps God will change their hearts and escape from the enemies traps.

What this means to me:

I am to be kind and gentle to all who oppose the truth. Be patient and courteous in my explanations. They will be more apt to listen and be changed in their hearts by God, allowing them to escape the enemies traps.

In summary, be kind to everyone. Be patient with difficult people. Gently instruct. Perhaps God will change those people's hearts, and they will learn the truth. Listen to peoples questions and treat them with respect. Recognize the source, Satan. People are just being used as weapons. Lean on the Holy Spirit for help, then treat the opposition the way Jesus did. He forgave them. Show love under attack and have more energy to fight the real enemy.