Who Could Ever Stop Us?

    There have been times in my life, as there are in many other Christian's lives, when I have been put down by those who hated me. The Bible tells us that there will be times when people will hate us because of our faith. Times where we suffer because of our King. And that it is of greatest honor to share in Christ's sufferings.

1 Peter 4:13 Instead, rejoice as you share in the sufferings of the Messiah, so that you may also rejoice with great joy at the revelation of His glory. (HCSB)

Philippians 3:10 My goal is to know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings (HCSB)

    However, when we experience these situations, it does not often feel quite so great and honorable. It is a tribulation to be the subject of hatred. A couple of years ago, I experienced this at a somewhat ridiculous level. I had done nothing to deserve the hatred I received, yet I was left with no more than one true friend.

    The way I got through this time was not by firing back. I never insulted or acted out of emotion towards those who persecuted me. Instead, I dug into the word and I took pleasure in being as nice to them as possible. They hated me more for it.

Proverbs 25:21-22 If your enemy is hungry, give him bread to eat, and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink, for you will heap burning coals on his head and the Lord will reward you.

    I remember one story that spoke volumes to me at the time. It was the story of Esther. This book held striking resemblance to the situation I was in at the time. In the story, a young Jewish woman named Esther is living outside of Jerusalem with her cousin, who had adopted her. When the King of the land was in search of a new wife, Esther's beauty won her favor an she became the new Queen. While she was living in the castle, her cousin Mordecai would stand outside the gates of the King's courts to communicate with her. At one point, a man in the King's court named Haman, decides that he doesn't like Mordecai after he refused to bow down to him (due to his Jewish beliefs).  He quickly devises a plot against him.

    He decides that he will not only kill of Mordecai, but also his people. He asks permission from the King to pass a bill to annihilate a vague enemy. Being his right hand man, the King tells him to do as he wishes. News of the bill reached Mordecai and devastated him. He sends the news Esther's way in hopes that she can get through to the King to change the law before it went into place! Esther relayed her fear. Mordecai stood strong in his faith.

Esther 4:14 If you keep silent at this time, liberation and deliverance will come to the Jewish people from another place, but you and your father’s house will be destroyed. Who knows, perhaps you have come to your royal position for such a time as this. (HCSB)

    As it turns out, Esther's place in royalty did earn her favor with the King and she was able to successfully save her people from destruction! This story just shows that you never know what plans and purposes God has for your life. Sometimes we go through trials and tribulations that prepare us for things we can't even perceive yet. They always make us stronger. But no matter what trials you face today, no matter who hates you or is against you, you have a Father who is for you.

Romans 8:31 What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? (NIV)

    He will give you favor over those who come against you. When I was struggling through that difficult time in my life, He wrote the following verse from Esther on my heart as a promise. He reminded me that no matter if the whole world is against me, He is for me and His purpose for me cannot be stopped. So praise Jesus through the storms of life! 

Esther 9:1 On the day when the Jews’ enemies had hoped to overpower them, just the opposite happened. The Jews overpowered those who hated them. (HCSB)