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Have you ever noticed that the times that you feel you are going to be most powerfully used by God are the times then everything seems to go wrong? Let me put it this way: Have you ever noticed that when you are doing things that build upon your relationship with God in a significant way or when you are doing things that build the relationship others have with God – what appears like road blocks begin to appear?

Let me explain with some examples.

I feel strongly that I am called to be an encourager in the lives of others. God wants me to increase in my boldness for Him, in the midst of the shouts of our culture who seeks to deny Him. I do this mostly through a commitment I made to get up early each morning and write. However, there are times when I am willing to take on teaching a class at our church. This happens to be one of those times. The class is important to me. It is centered around the Christian Life. What does it mean to be a Christ follower? How can we know Christ better? How can we become more like Christ? You get the idea or gest of the class.

This week marked the 3^rd class session. This particular week marked so many distractions and things gone wrong that meant to sidebar me, I doubt I can even recall them all. To start: a house comes on the market that actually fits what we have been searching for to accommodate for our future. After going through a tremendous amount of work to get our house ready to be put on the market in a very short period of time, and investing more time into running numbers and meeting with a realtor and architect, we find out we are not getting the house. Both Barry and I are completely blown away. We felt confident it was ours. Nope.

Now, at the same time, going around the schools is the first fall sickness. Sinus issues, achy body, cold symptoms… I get it. Of course I do! I’m exhausted as well as exposed to it. I’m sick. I’m not sleeping well. I’m feeling worse. I spend Monday and Tuesday home sick.

On Tuesday my dog begins having what I can only describe as tremors or mild seizures again. Third time now. We call the vet and make an appointment for her for Thursday to spend the day being watched and having blood work.

Wednesday my husband leaves me to this mess alone. He is a trustee for NCU and guess what week it is? Retreat week. Of course.  Before he goes, Barry prints my materials for class and puts them in his office. Locked. The plan was to leave me his key, but that didn’t happen. So while I eventually did get the materials, I had to hunt for our associate pastor in order to make that happen.

Just before heading out the door to the church, I decide to go to the bathroom. Without doing anything that should clog the toilet – it clogs. I kid you not when I say that I began to really feel attacked about this point. I began to recognize what was happening. I began to realize that what I was planning to say in this class was really attempting to be shut down. I started claiming scripture. “I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.” “No weapon formed against me shall stand.” The toilet unplugged. Off to church.

Wednesday the youth had a special time planned of going to Putters to do mini-golf and laser tag. Hannah is not interested in going as laser tag messes with her. Normally when she can’t do youth group she goes into worship with Barry or stays home with me (if I am not teaching). She can’t be without supervision. Our sweet youth pastor’s wife volunteered to hang out with her during the class time. One problem: we had so many kids show up that they needed extra drivers and she got recruited. Hannah ended up sitting in on my class.

I realize as I am getting ready to start that I am really starting to lose my voice. I had already begun to thank God for the fact that I have a microphone to use while I speak. It’s a big group. Somewhere along the way, I kid you not: the microphone dies. Batteries are dead. Weird.

Friend, I could go on, but here’s what I know: When I feel like I am making the most gains for my spiritual growth, or when I feel like I am at a place where I am helping others to grow, I am most attacked. Things are put in my way to prevent the message from being shared.

As I sit here this morning – true story – I am having to tune out a stupidly loud gurgling/grinding noise that my water feature out back is creating. It does this when it is low on water. Except, I filled it last night. I filled it so that this wouldn’t be a distraction this morning. Does this make sense? What am I doing? I am spending time with my Father. I am writing to encourage His people. All the while I am being annoyed by the sound.

I have good news. God is bigger than our greatest attacks. His strength is what gets us through. Not our strength, His strength. I was reminded this morning that while Satan may attack, his future is mapped out. “The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. May the grace of our LORD Jesus be with you.” (Romans 16:20) It was just what I needed to be reminded of.  It’s true. “No weapon formed against me shall stand.” “I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.” Why? “I lift my eyes unto the hills, from where does my help come? My help comes from the LORD, the maker of the heavens and the earth.” I can press on. My God is bigger.

Blessings!