Life as we know it, is not a bed of roses, a life without persecution, obstacles or temptation is a fanatasy. In reality, the journey is not always smooth, there will always be obstacles and barriers in the journey of life. In fact as a child of God, if you don’t face temptation, trial and obstacles then you need to check yourself and impact level in the spirit. The scriptures admonishes us to count our trials and temptation as a thing of joy because it is for our spiritual build up (James 1:2)

Speaking of Jesus, our Master – the author and finisher of our faith, it is said of Him, that He learned obedience through the things He suffered (Heb 5:8) and  as His followers, we are bound to experience tribulation as part of the process of refining us. This implies that Christianity doesn’t exempt you from trials, if it wasn't the will of the Father, Jesus Christ would have taken us out of the world the moment we got saved.

Instead He said in John 16:33 “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”

Being a Christian doesn’t exempt you from a life of struggles and temptation, it simply gives you an edge of over it.

According to Hab 2:4, Rom 1:17, the life of every child of God is define by the worth and degree of his/her faith in God.  This means that when our faith is tried, our faith is enhanced (James 1:2-3) and when our faith is enhanced our life is also enhanced. Smith Wigglesworth of Blessed Memory once said that great faith is born out of great trial.

Christianity is not a funfair

Every child of God must embrace the fact that Christianity is no funfair, but warfare (Eph 6:12). At new birth we were drafted into the army of Christ - the militant Church and as such we are admonished to be vigilant (Eph 6:12-18). Tribulation and trials will come, but we are assured of victory and triumph if we stand strong.

In the army of Christ, it is risky to act or behave like civilian, we must strive to be offensive in our spiritual journey. If you desire to live a life of no persecution, no obstacles as child of God, I advise you to take the nearest exit route – Die and Go Home. Jesus was persecuted and as His disciples we can’t escape it. 

But Why Obstacles?

Years ago, I was pondering on this question “but why this, why that” I decide to ask the Lord and was made to understand that the ruler of this world (2 Cor 4:4) has a threefold mission statement – Kill, Steal and Destroy (John 10:10). The devil wants to steal your blessing, to kill and destroy destiny. He is envious of you because of your placement with God. In 1 Cor 16:9 Paul speaking “For a great door and effectual is opened unto me and there are many adversaries”

In Deu 2:24 God said Rise ye up, take your journey, and pass over the river Arnon: behold, I have given into thine hand Sihon the Amorite, king of Heshbon, and his land: begin to possess it, and contend with him in battle. It simply mean that before you can step into the blessings God has packaged for you, there is a fight, not because God doesn’t want to give His blessing but because Satan don’t want you to access those blessing.

Note In Deu 2:24 the blessing has been delivered but there was an obstacle in your own side. In Daniel 10, God answered Daniel on the first day but it took 21 days to get the answer. The answer was hindered by a principality. That why the Word admonish us to fight the good fight of faith in order to lay on the blessing and package that eternal life has to offer (1 Tim 6:12 )

And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force. (Mat 11:12)

If you must possess your possession, then you must fight for it. It is time to drop that “gentleman” Christianity, unless you drop as a casualty. It is WAR.

Why the Lord Permit Tribulation?

The Lord asked me – Who is a victor, a champion, a winner? It was then it dawn to me you can’t be a winner or a champion without obstacles, trial and temptation. It is the overcoming of obstacles that makes you one. According to scriptures, every child of God is destined to reign, rule and overcome and be victorious (Rev 5:10, Math 5:13-14, 1 John 5:4-5) but you can’t become one unless you face trial, obstacles, test, race, fight.

Obstacle and trial: Platform to the next level

In 2008, I was faced with a great trial of faith, I was on the verge of giving up, when the Spirit spoke me clearly for the first time in my life from the bible record of the temptation of Jesus: “Every trial is a stepping stone to the next level”

So many believed that it was fasting that empowered Jesus for exploit in ministry, but No …Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit into Galilee and there went a fame of him round about (Luke 4:14). After the baptism of Jesus, He was full of the Holy Spirit (Luk 4:1) Note this: in Math 4:1 He was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil. In verse of 2 of Mathew 4, the devil came to tempt him after he had completed his 40 days and night fasting. It was after the temptation, that Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit (In Luke 4:1)

He was proven and tested before the power for exploit, you must understand there is a dimension of God’s power that you and I will never have access to until we have been tried and tested. God doesn’t commit power to spiritual babe.

Fasting and prayer empowered Jesus to overcome the devil and his devices, because Jesus Himself said in Math 17:21 this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting and He always admonished us to watch and prayer lest we fall into temptation.

So the fasting empowered Him to overcome the devil and by overcoming the devil’s games led Him to the next level of empowerment. God doesn’t commit His power, authority, blessing and anointing to spiritual novices but to sons and daughter – men and women who have been tested and proven.

This principle was further validated in the life of Abraham, in Genesis 22, Abraham had to pass a test before God swear the generational blessing on hm. Sometime ago I was in the Lord’s presence praying for more unction, then the Lord asked me what I was doing with the gift and power He had given to me.

Over time, I have noticed that the more I reach out to people with the message He had committed to me either through word of mouth or printed form. The more unction, revelation and result I experience. God always start us with small and with time; watches our faithfulness before entrusting us with greater power and blessing.

So God allows us to pass through trial and temptation in order for us to be proven and refined (James 1:2-3). Jesus laid a pattern for us. In Heb 5:8-9 the Word speaking of Jesus “Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered; And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;” Until a gold is refined, the true value never comes alive. Submit to God and remember He will never allow you to bear more than you can carry (1 Cor 10:13)

How to face and Overcome Trial and Obstacles

1. First recognise that your faith is tried:An understanding that your faith is tried (James 1:2.) will set and position you for victory.

2. See it as an opportunity for the next level: Hear this: if you fail the test, you will never graduate to the next level, the test will still come back in a different form because God allows it- He want you to grow up, to change level (Eph 4:13-14).

3. Know that you are able to overcome: I love this scripture, it has help me so many times – 1 Cor 10:13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it. God knows what you are passing through, He knows your ability and capability, He wouldn’t allow you to endure more than you can bear. God lives in you; you are a victor (1 John 4:4)

4. Remember God’s faithfulness: In every trial or problem that seems too big, remember how the Lord has helped you in the past to overcome that “big” problem that you faced. That same God is still alive; He is your father (if you saved). Even if we are not faithful, He remains faithful and He is always ready to help you.

5. Maintain Atmosphere of Praise and Worship: James 1:2-3 said “count it all joy” Remember Paul and Silas, in time of affliction, they prayed and sang and God step down on their behalf (Act 16:25-26)

6. Remain in the Word and Prayer: Maintain your focus on Word of God; Peter was doing well when he walking on the water until, he took his eyes off from Jesus. But if you maintain your focus on the Word of God, you will be transformed and lighted Psa 34:5. In the time of trials, pray more in the Holy Spirit, by so doing you are engaging the intercessory ministry of the Holy Spirit – He will help focus your prayer in the right direction. (Rom 8:26)

7. Embrace the Virtue of Endurance: In James 1:2-4 highlighted the place of patience in our spiritual development. Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward. For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise. For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry. Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him. (Heb 10:35-38)

8. Seek Wisdom: Also James 1:3-5 showed us the place of wisdom in overcoming our trial. Lord said to me “The way of escape in 1 Cor 10:13 is located in My Wisdom.” Ask God for His Wisdom when you don’t know what next to do, He will grant your request.

Always remember the Lord’s faithfulness in your past trial and celebrate Him, He will surely see you through. In Jesus Name Amen

Jesus is Lord