This journey of life may often seem to have an odd agenda of throwing at us enormous difficulties that can be all too often overwhelming.  And, if that is not enough little challenges seem to find their way right into your lap. What the heck!
It is okay, you are not alone.  No, seriously you are not alone.  You are not the only one that can find yourself in situations that are a bit much.  Even Jesus, himself endured bad experiences outside of the cross.  Wait a minute, where is the goodness of God in this?  Wisdom tells us,  "No testing has overtaken you that is not common to everyone. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tested beyond your strength, but with the testing he will also provide the way out so that you may be able to endure it." (1 Corinthians 10:13)  Hardships happen and as bad as it seems they are designed to give you firsthand experience in God's faithfulness.  And, It may feel like you are getting your Ph.D. in the "school of hard knocks," but there is hope.  Having firsthand experience of God's faithfulness grows something in you to begin living beyond the ordinary.  God's goodness is revealed in these situations in a way to show He is the one who causes normal people who have normal jobs and normal lives to live in extraordinary power to trump the demonic's handcrafted moments of impossibility.
  
Smaller battles may seem annoying and rather useless and it may be hard to believe that those are in any way beneficial, but those times of training provide history with God to strengthen your spirit for the giants you will one day face.  Some of those giants may be personal, and others may be for the breakthrough of nations you are destined to touch.  The little battles are like a clue that tell us whether or not we are ready for the bigger battle.  Speaking through the prophet, Jeremiah, God says, "If you have raced with men on foot and they have worn you out, how can you compete with horses? If you stumble in safe country, how will you manage in the thickets by the Jordan?" (Jeremiah 12:5)  Many of us are in training right now and we may not even realize it.  The training can take various shapes and forms.  It can come at us straight or come at us sideways catching us off guard.  And at other times, we may experience the same situation again and again until we realize who we are in Christ, allowing the Christ-nature to come forth in us to demonstrate our God given authority. Everyone experiences something different and yet none of it goes unrewarded.  

How is it that one overcomes in all these trials? Trust in the faithfulness of God.  Believe in the Father's goodness regardless of your situation.  Overcoming is born out of becoming utterly convinced that what He said, He is also able to perform.  Being an overcomer is not a title given to you after you have successfully beat the trial. Overcoming is what happens when we believe.

".for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith..."
1JOHN 5:4

JAMIE GALLOWAY