Why Do I Have All This Resistance In My Life?
Dave puts in a garden every year. All summer, he nurtures these plants. There’s the planting and the watering, the weeding and the fertilizing – and a lot of praying for cooperation from heaven.
I don’t get it. It’s a lot of work and yields are not guaranteed. Farmers must be the most faith-filled people of all.
For months, Dave works to make sure these plants don’t get eaten by bugs, or squirrels or deer! He vigilantly protects them from disease and root rot and overcrowding.
It’s kinda exhausting!
But then, harvest time comes and there are baskets of tomatoes, bushels of cucumbers, buckets of peppers and armfuls of kale and herbs. Way more than we can eat. Bountiful enough to consume now, share with neighbors, and to put up for winter.
What a picture of God’s overflowing goodness.
When we partner with the LORD to grow a garden (or a kid or a ministry or a marriage or a business), we will most certainly come up against resistance. We have to contend against adversity, attack and attrition for good outcomes.
Resistance is (probably) not God’s disapproval.
Sometimes resistance is God’s testing ground to make us stronger, or build our faith, or expand our trust, or teach us wisdom or simply remind us that we need him — so that we produce a harvest of testimonies to use now, share with others and store up for later.
We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. – Romans 5:3-4 NLT
Three things help me press through resistance. Maybe they will help you, too.
1 – Assess the situation.
Sometimes we face resistance because God is moving us toward something better than we can imagine and we stubbornly refuse to change, adjust, or yield.
Maybe we get scared, or we don’t believe we’re worthy, or we just plain like things they say they are!
Ask yourself if you’re a stumbling block to what God is trying to do in your life.
2 – Tell yourself the right story.
Henry Ford said, “Whether you think you can, or you think you can’t–you’re right.”
We need to be telling ourselves the right story about the resistance in our lives so we don’t take the role of victim or give up or look at God as punitive instead of a good father.
Change the narrative in your head to support the belief that this WILL be a good thing, even if it’s not right now.
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. – Romans 8:28
3 – Enlist a prayer partner.
When pushing back against resistance, you should call in reinforcements.
Prayer partners have two roles.
(1) to pray heaven to earth on your behalf
(2) to encourage you to stay the course.
Knowing you are not alone is valuable to silence the lies in your head that you aren’t going to make it or you deserve this trial.
When we persevere through resistance, we can be assured that it will produce a good harvest, for us, for anyone watching, and to glorify the LORD.
If you’re up against resistance right now, drop a comment below. I read every one and will pray for you as you persevere.
Verse for today: No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it. – Hebrews 12:11 NIV
Prayer: Father, not gonna lie, I like it when you make it easy. Thank you for loving me enough to force me to new levels of faith. Gift me wisdom. And patience. And endurance as I follow you to become more like your Son. In Jesus’ Name I pray, amen.
Thank you, Robyn. This was very timely. I’ve been struggling with a new endeavor that I thought was God’s plan for this stage of my life. Now I’m encouraged to press through the difficulties. My hope is renewed!
You are such an encourager! Love to hear from you and glad this post was on target for you.
Hurricane Ian damaged the house I was renting. Now have no place to live. Raising my 11 yr old grandson. I had to send him to stay with his uncle in Tampa. I have temporary housing for 3 months. I am trusting God. This is a hard thing, out of my control. I am scared.
Oh Lord have mercy, Margaret. That’s a really hard spot to be in. I am praying in agreement with you for a new home for you and your g-son.
Because of trying to force my own outcomes and to build a business I have created a financial mess. God is making a way, and I need prayer not to try to rush the process and to reassure creditors that the money is coming.
Please pray for a successful refi. I am thankful that God directed me to this answer.
Have a blessed and beautiful day!
Oh dear, Eugenie, that’s a tough spot. Praying for a favorable outcome.
Loves seeing you at La Casa de Cristo yesterday! Great presentation. Even though I’ve heard you about 5 times now and you tell your story it is always enough different to be inspiring and entertaining. Keep doing what you’re doing. I love your transparency.
You were busy so didn’t say goodbye but hope to see you again.
In His love,
Darlene Skarda
Darlene, it was so good to see you again. Sorry we didn’t have much time to catch up. I hope La Casa continues to do the wonderful ministry for women.
I needed your words this morning. Maybe they saved me from making a big mistake. I’m struggling in my marriage.
I echo “Darlene”: Keep doing what you’re doing! Someone is always listening.
Love, Jeanie C
Jeanie, there are days … Just keeping doing the next right thing. You are loved.
Yes i am up against resistance.
So sorry Margaret. It can be so hard. Be safe and be encouraged. I’m praying for you.
I believe I told you in March, when you spoke at the FBCNA women’s retreat, that my son had abandoned his faith in God. He is diametrically opposed to everything me and my husband stand for. This has created much tension and conflict in our relationship and as of a week ago, he said that talking to us is too “emotionally draining” right now, so he can’t talk to us. He’s basically all alone, in a new job, with no friends, has abandoned his faith, and now his family. We don’t know exactly where this is going or how long it will take before he returns to the Lord. All we can do is pray for him and ourselves, that God will sustain us, give us wisdom as too how we should proceed, and to continue working in our son’s life.
Oh Anne, this is heartbreaking to read. I am praying in agreement with you for your son to come to his senses and return to Jesus and to you.
I needed this today. That’s all I know to say right now but thank you ?
Hey Kimberly,
Glad it hit the mark for you.
Hello,i love to read your amazing stories, it give me so much encouragement to keep on pushing my way through,sometimes i sit and put my face in my hands and ask why me. Then i pause and say if my God didn’t choose me then who will he use. On Saturday morning i led our women’s Bible Study i ask them to testified and after three testimony i was in tears. Driving home i said lord why you ask me to have all those ladies to do that. I was in awe from the Holy spirit . So much was said , so much water tap was turn on. God work on us in different ways.
I love this message Robyn!
I realize I need to move out of God’s way in my life and get over insecurity, fear, embarrassment that I might fail or worse look stupid.
Change my narrative to God is not only able to use me but also clearly wants to
I have felt alone my entire life and especially after losing my husband 2 1/2 years ago. This has evolved into I am not alone I am on my own. Right now I just realized this is also not true and should be amended to I am in fellowship?
Also loved your presentations at Women Anew in Ohio