Do you ever feel as if you are not getting anywhere – whenever you move forward, you find yourself going backwards again? This is because you keep taking steps back when you face obstacles, hindrances and problems, instead of allowing them to move you forward. Timothy experienced the same temptation but Apostle Paul warned him not to take a step back when he was sick, attacked, persecuted or discouraged.
“Timothy, my son, I am giving you this command in keeping with the prophecies once made about you, so that by recalling them you may fight the battle well, holding on to faith and a good conscience, which some have rejected and so have suffered shipwreck with regard to the faith.” (1 Timothy 18-19)
You take a step back when in the face of your situation, you get discouraged and start complaining, ‘Why me?’ Whereas this is the beauty of our journey to eternal life – our challenges. Apostle Paul himself knew what it was like to feel like giving up while facing challenges but he kept on running the straight race with God.
What situation are you facing that is causing you to take a step back? Don’t forget, your challenges are friends to move you forward if they produce a sense of dependence on God.