OVERCOME

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The life I have been blessed with has been very trying of late. I have had physical limitations that are overpowering, I have encountered my old foe depression, and I am plagued with dehabilitating fatigue that overwhelms.

 

Today though I realized something about the word overcome. It is a word in process, a word of action, a state of being. I have been so overpowered by the afflictions of my predicament that I have forgotten the nature of BEING. Although there are many conditions that create the very nature of life, I have been focused on circumstances rather than the actuality of existence.

 

I AM in a state of overcoming. No matter what the circumstances are, two and a half years ago the “status” of who I was changed from defeated, to overcoming. America is where I hail from. The strange land that has culturally taught us that the only way to live, is perfectly. But my life is a mess and I am a mess inside of it. I live in complete chaos. There is a continued spiral of decay that is alive and well in me. I think that there are many people who would look at my life in astonishment as I declare the center of my life, revolves around Christ. I hear the cries already: “But if God was real then she would be better!” or “If she was a true believer then she would get her act together!”.

 

The problem with these lines of thinking is that they are both self-centered. The first: "If God was real, then..." Well, I’m not God, but I am personally hard to understand. Who am I to question the motives and actions of the one who calls Himself “I AM” if I cannot even fathom the depths of my own soul?  In all honesty, I would rather worship a being that makes no sense at times, than one who perfectly aligns with my underwhelming mind. The other thought process involves a ridiculous notion that the common state of being for any human is perfection. If I have my facts straight, this has never been our “natural” state. We are imperfect beings.

 

In John 16 Jesus is speaking to his disciples about what is to come. He says:

 

Do you now believe? Behold, the hour is coming, indeed it has come, when you will be scattered, each to his own home, and will leave me alone. Yet I am not alone, for the Father is with me. I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.

 

He speaks with authority and in a very clear way he communicates the reality of what will happen on the cross; the literal moment of overcoming. He who has overcome the pain, the trials, our sin and shame; now lives in me. I leave you with the glorious worship that is Romans 8:18-39. This is my state of permanent being. I have already overcome through the power of Christ, now I eagerly wait for redemption.

 

For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees?

           

But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience. Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.  And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.

           

            God’s Everlasting Love

 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised— who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? As it is written,

 

              "For your sake we are being killed all the day long;

                        we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered."

                                    

No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.