Question 1

How can I overcome obstacles in my life?

Accepted Answer

Jeremiah 32:27“I am the Lord, the God of all the peoples of the world. Is anything too hard for me?”The first step to overcoming an obstacle is remembering that God enjoys making happen what we think is impossible.Psalm 18:4-6The ropes of death entangled me; floods of destruction swept over me. The grave wrapped its ropes around me; death laid a trap in my path. But in my distress I cried out to the Lord; yes, I prayed to my God for help. He heard me from his sanctuary; my cry to him reached his ears.Psalm 61:2From the ends of the earth, I cry to you for help when my heart is overwhelmed. Lead me to the towering rock of safety,Psalm 69:2-4Deeper and deeper I sink into the mire; I can’t find a foothold. I am in deep water, and the floods overwhelm me. I am exhausted from crying for help; my throat is parched. My eyes are swollen with weeping, waiting for my God to help me. Those who hate me without cause outnumber the hairs on my head. Many enemies try to destroy me with lies, demanding that I give back what I didn’t steal.Psalm 138:3As soon as I pray, you answer me; you encourage me by giving me strength.When encountering an obstacle, we should pray. Honestly talking with and listening to God, will help us face and overcome life’s obstacles. Prayer invites God, who has no limits, to work in the situations we face.Nehemiah 4:10-11Then the people of Judah began to complain, “The workers are getting tired, and there is so much rubble to be moved. We will never be able to build the wall by ourselves.” Meanwhile, our enemies were saying, “Before they know what’s happening, we will swoop down on them and kill them and end their work.”Nehemiah 6:15-16, 19So on October 2 the wall was finished—just fifty-two days after we had begun. When our enemies and the surrounding nations heard about it, they were frightened and humiliated. They realized this work had been done with the help of our God. . . . They kept telling me about Tobiah’s good deeds, and then they told him everything I said. And Tobiah kept sending threatening letters to intimidate me.Psalm 27:14Wait patiently for the Lord. Be brave and courageous. Yes, wait patiently for the Lord.Psalm 31:24So be strong and courageous, all you who put your hope in the Lord!After asking God for strength and guidance, we need to be patient. The balance between waiting patiently on God and “building the wall” is courageous obedience to what God calls us to do one day at a time. We may think that we can’t do the big work God has planned for us, but we can do the little tasks for God today while we wait for him to show us the way. In taking those small steps of obedience each day, we may find that we have been building a great work for him one stone at a time.2 Corinthians 12:9-10Each time he [the Lord] said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me. That’s why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong.The obstacles in our lives are opportunities for God to reveal his power. When we have this perspective, the obstacles we face may not seem so overwhelming. The weaknesses within us and the hardships we face that frighten us may be tools that God is using to shape us into his kind of people.Luke 4:1-2Then Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan River. He was led by the Spirit in the wilderness, where he was tempted by the devil for forty days. Jesus ate nothing all that time and became very hungry.1 Corinthians 10:13The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure.Being filled with the Holy Spirit did not prevent Jesus from facing the obstacle of temptation; rather, it prepared him to overcome his temptation. As long as we live, we will be tempted to do what is wrong, but we can have the power to overcome, resist, and defeat temptation.Hebrews 12:1-2Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne.Hebrews 12:3-4Think of all the hostility he [Jesus] endured from sinful people; then you won’t become weary and give up. After all, you have not yet given your lives in your struggle against sin.Having Jesus as our example will helps us overcome obstacles. “What would Jesus do?” is more than a cliché; it is a good way to deal with life’s problems.Genesis 17:17Then Abraham bowed down to the ground, but he laughed to himself in disbelief. “How could I become a father at the age of 100?” he thought. “And how can Sarah have a baby when she is ninety years old?”Genesis 18:14“Is anything too hard for the Lord? I will return about this time next year, and Sarah will have a son.”Genesis 21:1-2The Lord kept his word and did for Sarah exactly what he had promised. She became pregnant, and she gave birth to a son for Abraham in his old age. This happened at just the time God had said it would.Amos 7:12-15Then Amaziah sent orders to Amos: “Get out of here, you prophet! Go on back to the land of Judah, and earn your living by prophesying there! Don’t bother us with your prophecies here in Bethel. This is the king’s sanctuary and the national place of worship!” But Amos replied, “I’m not a professional prophet, and I was never trained to be one. I’m just a shepherd, and I take care of sycamore-fig trees. But the Lord called me away from my flock and told me, ‘Go and prophesy to my people in Israel.’”Acts 4:13-22The members of the council were amazed when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, for they could see that they were ordinary men with no special training in the Scriptures. They also recognized them as men who had been with Jesus. But since they could see the man who had been healed standing right there among them, there was nothing the council could say. So they ordered Peter and John out of the council chamber and conferred among themselves. “What should we do with these men?” they asked each other. “We can’t deny that they have performed a miraculous sign, and everybody in Jerusalem knows about it. But to keep them from spreading their propaganda any further, we must warn them not to speak to anyone in Jesus’ name again.” So they called the apostles back in and commanded them never again to speak or teach in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John replied, “Do you think God wants us to obey you rather than him? We cannot stop telling about everything we have seen and heard.” The council then threatened them further, but they finally let them go because they didn’t know how to punish them without starting a riot. For everyone was praising God for this miraculous sign—the healing of a man who had been lame for more than forty years.Hebrews 11:8-9, 11-12It was by faith that Abraham obeyed when God called him to leave home and go to another land that God would give him as his inheritance. He went without knowing where he was going. And even when he reached the land God promised him, he lived there by faith—for he was like a foreigner, living in tents. And so did Isaac and Jacob, who inherited the same promise. . . . It was by faith that even Sarah was able to have a child, though she was barren and was too old. She believed that God would keep his promise. And so a whole nation came from this one man who was as good as dead—a nation with so many people that, like the stars in the sky and the sand on the seashore, there is no way to count them.Ordinary people can do extraordinary things and have extraordinary courage with God’s help. No matter what God calls us to do and despite the obstacles we face, he will always give us exactly what need to accomplish it.Joshua 1:7, 9“Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the instructions Moses gave you. Do not deviate from them, turning either to the right or to the left. Then you will be successful in everything you do. . . . This is my command—be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”Judges 6:13-15“Sir,” Gideon replied, “if the Lord is with us, why has all this happened to us? And where are all the miracles our ancestors told us about? Didn’t they say, ‘The Lord brought us up out of Egypt’? But now the Lord has abandoned us and handed us over to the Midianites.” Then the Lord turned to him and said, “Go with the strength you have, and rescue Israel from the Midianites. I am sending you!” “But Lord,” Gideon replied, “how can I rescue Israel? My clan is the weakest in the whole tribe of Manasseh, and I am the least in my entire family!”1 Samuel 17:4-7, 32-33, 37, 45-51Goliath, a Philistine champion from Gath, came out of the Philistine ranks to face the forces of Israel. He was over nine feet tall! He wore a bronze helmet, and his bronze coat of mail weighed 125 pounds. He also wore bronze leg armor, and he carried a bronze javelin on his shoulder. The shaft of his spear was as heavy and thick as a weaver’s beam, tipped with an iron spearhead that weighed 15 pounds. His armor bearer walked ahead of him carrying a shield. . . . “Don’t worry about this Philistine,” David told Saul. “I’ll go fight him!” “Don’t be ridiculous!” Saul replied. “There’s no way you can fight this Philistine and possibly win! You’re only a boy, and he’s been a man of war since his youth.” . . . The Lord who rescued me from the claws of the lion and the bear will rescue me from this Philistine!” Saul finally consented. “All right, go ahead,” he said. “And may the Lord be with you!” . . . David replied to the Philistine, “You come to me with sword, spear, and javelin, but I come to you in the name of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies—the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. Today the Lord will conquer you, and I will kill you and cut off your head. And then I will give the dead bodies of your men to the birds and wild animals, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel! And everyone assembled here will know that the Lord rescues his people, but not with sword and spear. This is the Lord’s battle, and he will give you to us!” As Goliath moved closer to attack, David quickly ran out to meet him. Reaching into his shepherd’s bag and taking out a stone, he hurled it with his sling and hit the Philistine in the forehead. The stone sank in, and Goliath stumbled and fell face down on the ground. So David triumphed over the Philistine with only a sling and a stone, for he had no sword. Then David ran over and pulled Goliath’s sword from its sheath. David used it to kill him and cut off his head. When the Philistines saw that their champion was dead, they turned and ran.1 Chronicles 28:20David continued, “Be strong and courageous, and do the work. Don’t be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord God, my God, is with you. He will not fail you or forsake you. He will see to it that all the work related to the Temple of the Lord is finished correctly.”2 Chronicles 32:7“Be strong and courageous! Don’t be afraid or discouraged because of the king of Assyria or his mighty army, for there is a power far greater on our side!”Psalm 46:1-2God is our refuge and strength, always ready to help in times of trouble. So we will not fear when earthquakes come and the mountains crumble into the sea.Psalm 49:5Why should I fear when trouble comes, when enemies surround me?Proverbs 28:1The wicked run away when no one is chasing them, but the godly are as bold as lions.1 Corinthians 16:13Be on guard. Stand firm in the faith. Be courageous. Be strong.We will have courage to overcome temptations and other obstacles when we are obedient and firm in our faith. Then we can be confident that God is with us and wants to help us.2 Corinthians 10:3-5We are human, but we don’t wage war as humans do. We use God’s mighty weapons, not worldly weapons, to knock down the strongholds of human reasoning and to destroy false arguments. We destroy every proud obstacle that keeps people from knowing God. We capture their rebellious thoughts and teach them to obey Christ.Ephesians 6:10-18A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places. Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm. Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness. For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared. In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil. Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere.1 John 5:4-5Every child of God defeats this evil world, and we achieve this victory through our faith. And who can win this battle against the world? Only those who believe that Jesus is the Son of God.Satan specializes in putting obstacles in our paths; God specializes in helping us overcome them. He equips us to do this with his armor and his weapons of truth, righteousness, peace, God’s Word, and the gift of salvation.Psalm 5:8Lead me in the right path, O Lord, or my enemies will conquer me. Make your way plain for me to follow.We can overcome some obstacles simply by avoiding them when we see them ahead. Living by God’s rules will keep us alert to potential obstacles.1 Peter 1:13So prepare your minds for action and exercise self-control. Put all your hope in the gracious salvation that will come to you when Jesus Christ is revealed to the world.Trusting in Christ alone and exercising self-control will keep us from doing what we should not.Zechariah 8:6, 13, 15“This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies says: All this may seem impossible to you now, a small remnant of God’s people. But is it impossible for me? says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. . . . Among the other nations, Judah and Israel became symbols of a cursed nation. But no longer! Now I will rescue you and make you both a symbol and a source of blessing. So don’t be afraid. Be strong, and get on with rebuilding the Temple! . . . But now I am determined to bless Jerusalem and the people of Judah. So don’t be afraid.”God gives us the encouragement and strength to overcome obstacles by speaking to us in his Word, through the prompting of the Holy Spirit, and through godly counsel.

Question 2

What are the traits of an overcomer?

Accepted Answer

Exodus 4:12“Now go! I will be with you as you speak, and I will instruct you in what to say.”Matthew 1:24When Joseph woke up, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded and took Mary as his wife.Luke 5:4-5When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Now go out where it is deeper, and let down your nets to catch some fish.” “Master,” Simon replied, “we worked hard all last night and didn’t catch a thing. But if you say so, I’ll let the nets down again.”An overcomer walks with God in obedience.Daniel 1:8Daniel was determined not to defile himself by eating the food and wine given to them by the king. He asked the chief of staff for permission not to eat these unacceptable foods.Daniel 3:16-18Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego replied, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God whom we serve is able to save us. He will rescue us from your power, Your Majesty. But even if he doesn’t, we want to make it clear to you, Your Majesty, that we will never serve your gods or worship the gold statue you have set up.”Daniel 6:10When Daniel learned that the law had been signed, he went home and knelt down as usual in his upstairs room, with its windows open toward Jerusalem. He prayed three times a day, just as he had always done, giving thanks to his God.Acts 4:19-20Peter and John replied, “Do you think God wants us to obey you rather than him? We cannot stop telling about everything we have seen and heard.”Acts 5:29Peter and the apostles replied, “We must obey God rather than any human authority.”Overcomers always stand by their convictions.Nehemiah 4:15When our enemies heard that we knew of their plans and that God had frustrated them, we all returned to our work on the wall.Job 17:9“The righteous keep moving forward, and those with clean hands become stronger and stronger.”Psalm 17:5My steps have stayed on your path; I have not wavered from following you.Proverbs 24:10If you fail under pressure, your strength is too small.Romans 5:3-4We 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.2 Corinthians 4:8We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed. We are perplexed, but not driven to despair.James 1:2-4Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.Overcomers endure anything necessary to finish their God-given tasks.Philippians 3:12-14I don’t mean to say that I have already achieved these things or that I have already reached perfection. But I press on to possess that perfection for which Christ Jesus first possessed me. No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.1 Timothy 1:18Timothy, my son, here are my instructions for you, based on the prophetic words spoken about you earlier. May they help you fight well in the Lord’s battles.2 Timothy 4:7I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, and I have remained faithful.1 Peter 4:19So if you are suffering in a manner that pleases God, keep on doing what is right, and trust your lives to the God who created you, for he will never fail you.Overcomers display perseverance, never giving up before reaching their God-given goals.Romans 1:12When we get together, I want to encourage you in your faith, but I also want to be encouraged by yours.Overcomers give encouragement to fellow believers and receive encouragement in return, giving and gaining strength for the struggle.Psalm 3:5-6I lay down and slept, yet I woke up in safety, for the Lord was watching over me. I am not afraid of ten thousand enemies who surround me on every side.Psalm 46:1-2God is our refuge and strength, always ready to help in times of trouble. So we will not fear when earthquakes come and the mountains crumble into the sea.John 14:27“I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.”Overcomers have peace, even in the middle of difficult circumstances.

Question 3

How can I deal with obstacles that are too great for me to overcome?

Accepted Answer

John 16:33“I [Jesus] have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.”Romans 3:23Everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard.Romans 5:17The sin of this one man, Adam, caused death to rule over many. But even greater is God’s wonderful grace and his gift of righteousness, for all who receive it will live in triumph over sin and death through this one man, Jesus Christ.Romans 8:37No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us.1 Corinthians 15:54-57When our dying bodies have been transformed into bodies that will never die, this Scripture will be fulfilled: “Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” For sin is the sting that results in death, and the law gives sin its power. But thank God! He gives us victory over sin and death through our Lord Jesus Christ.We live in a sinful world, and we are sinners. So our natural default setting is to sin. We can never overcome sin in our own strength, only through the power of sin through the Holy Spirt working in and through us.Psalm 119:133Guide my steps by your word, so I will not be overcome by evil.Romans 6:12-13Do not let sin control the way you live; do not give in to sinful desires. Do not let any part of your body become an instrument of evil to serve sin. Instead, give yourselves completely to God, for you were dead, but now you have new life. So use your whole body as an instrument to do what is right for the glory of God.Romans 12:21Don’t let evil conquer you, but conquer evil by doing good.1 Timothy 6:11You, Timothy, are a man of God; so run from all these evil things. Pursue righteousness and a godly life, along with faith, love, perseverance, and gentleness.1 John 2:13-14I am writing to you who are mature in the faith because you know Christ, who existed from the beginning. I am writing to you who are young in the faith because you have won your battle with the evil one. I have written to you who are God’s children because you know the Father. I have written to you who are mature in the faith because you know Christ, who existed from the beginning. I have written to you who are young in the faith because you are strong. God’s word lives in your hearts, and you have won your battle with the evil one.1 John 5:3-5Loving God means keeping his commandments, and his commandments are not burdensome. For every child of God defeats this evil world, and we achieve this victory through our faith. And who can win this battle against the world? Only those who believe that Jesus is the Son of God.We cannot overcome our fallen human nature on our own; we need the power of God and his Holy Spirit.Philippians 3:21He will take our weak mortal bodies and change them into glorious bodies like his own, using the same power with which he will bring everything under his control.Hebrews 3:14If we are faithful to the end, trusting God just as firmly as when we first believed, we will share in all that belongs to Christ.Some victories will have to wait for eternity.

Question 4

Can I really overcome the obstacles and enemies I face?

Accepted Answer

John 16:33“I [Jesus] have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.”Living in a sinful, fallen world, we will face obstacles. As followers of Christ, we will face enemies. But Christ has overcome the world and sin and everything that comes with them. We need to hold onto this truth and walk in faith.1 John 5:4-5Every child of God defeats this evil world, and we achieve this victory through our faith. And who can win this battle against the world? Only those who believe that Jesus is the Son of God.We overcome obstacles and enemies by trusting in Jesus’ strength, not our own.Revelation 17:14“Together they will go to war against the Lamb, but the Lamb will defeat them because he is Lord of all lords and King of all kings. And his called and chosen and faithful ones will be with him.”We need to remember that Christ is the ultimate victor. When he returns to rule, he will permanently overcome sin and Satan.

Question 5

How can I help others to become overcomers?

Accepted Answer

Isaiah 35:3With this news, strengthen those who have tired hands, and encourage those who have weak knees.Galatians 6:1-3Dear brothers and sisters, if another believer is overcome by some sin, you who are godly should gently and humbly help that person back onto the right path. And be careful not to fall into the same temptation yourself. Share each other’s burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ. If you think you are too important to help someone, you are only fooling yourself. You are not that important.1 Thessalonians 5:14Brothers and sisters, we urge you to warn those who are lazy. Encourage those who are timid. Take tender care of those who are weak. Be patient with everyone.2 Timothy 4:2Preach the word of God. Be prepared, whether the time is favorable or not. Patiently correct, rebuke, and encourage your people with good teaching.In helping others overcome, we can remind them of who God is and his love for them. The goal of helping others overcome should be moving them closer to God. We are to help one another gently, humbly, persistently, patiently, encouragingly and tenderly.Isaiah 63:7, 11-14I will tell of the Lord’s unfailing love. I will praise the Lord for all he has done. I will rejoice in his great goodness to Israel, which he has granted according to his mercy and love. . . . Then they remembered those days of old when Moses led his people out of Egypt. They cried out, “Where is the one who brought Israel through the sea, with Moses as their shepherd? Where is the one who sent his Holy Spirit to be among his people? Where is the one whose power was displayed when Moses lifted up his hand—the one who divided the sea before them, making himself famous forever? Where is the one who led them through the bottom of the sea? They were like fine stallions racing through the desert, never stumbling. As with cattle going down into a peaceful valley, the Spirit of the Lord gave them rest. You led your people, Lord, and gained a magnificent reputation.”When we are helping others overcome, we can remind them of God’s past help in their lives—and in our lives too. Remembering the Lord’s past faithfulness will awaken an anticipation of his future faithfulness.2 Corinthians 1:8-11We think you ought to know, dear brothers and sisters, about the trouble we went through in the province of Asia. We were crushed and overwhelmed beyond our ability to endure, and we thought we would never live through it. In fact, we expected to die. But as a result, we stopped relying on ourselves and learned to rely only on God, who raises the dead. And he did rescue us from mortal danger, and he will rescue us again. We have placed our confidence in him, and he will continue to rescue us. And you are helping us by praying for us. Then many people will give thanks because God has graciously answered so many prayers for our safety.Ephesians 6:18Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere.To help others overcome, we can pray for them.Hebrews 12:12-13So take a new grip with your tired hands and strengthen your weak knees. Mark out a straight path for your feet so that those who are weak and lame will not fall but become strong.2 Peter 1:5-8In view of all this, make every effort to respond to God’s promises. Supplement your faith with a generous provision of moral excellence, and moral excellence with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with patient endurance, and patient endurance with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love for everyone. The more you grow like this, the more productive and useful you will be in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.To help others overcome, we can lead them by our faithful example.Acts 14:22They [Paul and Barnabas] encouraged them [the believers] to continue in the faith, reminding them that we must suffer many hardships to enter the Kingdom of God.Romans 5:1-5Therefore, since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us. Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of undeserved privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God’s glory. 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. And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.Galatians 6:9So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up.Philippians 3:13No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead.Revelation 14:12This means that God’s holy people must endure persecution patiently, obeying his commands and maintaining their faith in Jesus.As we help others overcome, we can encourage them to have an eternal perspective, knowing that in the end God will overcome all pain and evil.

Question 6

What could be some dangers of overcoming?

Accepted Answer

Proverbs 6:16-19There are six things the Lord hates—no, seven things he detests: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that kill the innocent, a heart that plots evil, feet that race to do wrong, a false witness who pours out lies, a person who sows discord in a family.Proverbs 16:5, 18The Lord detests the proud; they will surely be punished. . . . Pride goes before destruction, and haughtiness before a fall.Proverbs 18:12Haughtiness goes before destruction; humility precedes honor.Proverbs 29:23Pride ends in humiliation, while humility brings honor.Overcoming might cause us to think that we are self-sufficient, that we can overcome our obstacles by ourselves and don’t need God. This is pride, which the Lord hates.1 Corinthians 15:10Whatever I [Paul] am now, it is all because God poured out his special favor on me—and not without results. For I have worked harder than any of the other apostles; yet it was not I but God who was working through me by his grace.2 Corinthians 1:12We can say with confidence and a clear conscience that we have lived with a God-given holiness and sincerity in all our dealings. We have depended on God’s grace, not on our own human wisdom. That is how we have conducted ourselves before the world, and especially toward you.Overcoming may blind us to God’s grace at work in our lives, as we may begin to think that it was our skills or good fortune that led to our success. But God is the one who enables us to overcome.

Question 7

How can I be an overcomer?

Accepted Answer

Psalm 116:3-5Death wrapped its ropes around me; the terrors of the grave overtook me. I saw only trouble and sorrow. Then I called on the name of the Lord: “Please, Lord, save me!” How kind the Lord is! How good he is! So merciful, this God of ours!To be overcomers, we need to pray. Prayer is essential.2 Corinthians 4:8-9We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed. We are perplexed, but not driven to despair. We are hunted down, but never abandoned by God. We get knocked down, but we are not destroyed.To be overcomers, we must be confident of God’s presence. Knowing we are not alone in the battle will help us develop the ability to endure setbacks without surrendering.2 Corinthians 4:18So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever.To be overcomers, we need an eternal perspective—God’s perspective. Even though we are unable to see the big picture, God sees everything from start to finish. And he is working to accomplish his purposes.

Question 8

Is it possible for me to overcome the disadvantages of my birth and family?

Accepted Answer

Judges 11:1-2Jephthah of Gilead was a great warrior. He was the son of Gilead, but his mother was a prostitute. Gilead’s wife also had several sons, and when these half brothers grew up, they chased Jephthah off the land. “You will not get any of our father’s inheritance,” they said, “for you are the son of a prostitute.”Despite being scorned and rejected because of his illegitimate birth, Jephthah became a military hero and judge of all Israel.2 Kings 11:1-3When Athaliah, the mother of King Ahaziah of Judah, learned that her son was dead, she began to destroy the rest of the royal family. But Ahaziah’s sister Jehosheba, the daughter of King Jehoram, took Ahaziah’s infant son, Joash, and stole him away from among the rest of the king’s children, who were about to be killed. She put Joash and his nurse in a bedroom, and they hid him from Athaliah, so the child was not murdered. Joash remained hidden in the Temple of the Lord for six years while Athaliah ruled over the land.Joash was raised in hiding after the rest of his family was murdered, yet with the help of godly mentors, he rose to become one of Judah’s godly kings.Genesis 41:41Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I hereby put you in charge of the entire land of Egypt.”Joseph’s brothers hated him so much that they sold him as a slave. Yet Joseph trusted God and maintained his own integrity, and he became a wise and powerful ruler.