I've been thinking a lot lately about trials and temptations; those that the devil specifically uses on me because he knows they are my weaknesses. An amazing friend of mine shared a passage of scripture with me today that gave me new perspective on those things.
Lamentations 3:19-33:
"I remember my affliction and my wandering,
the bitterness and the gall.
I well remember them,
and my soul is downcast within me.
Yet this I call to mind
and therefore I have hope:
Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed,
for his compassions never fail.
They are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness.
I say to myself, 'The Lord is my portion;
therefore I will wait for him.'
The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him,
to the one who seeks him;
it is good to wait quietly
for the salvation of the Lord.
It is good for a man to bear the yoke
while he is young.
Let him sit alone in silence,
for the Lord has laid it on him.
Let him bury his face in the dust–
there may yet be hope.
Let him offer his cheek to the one who would strike him,
and let him be filled with disgrace.
For men are not cast off
by the Lord forever.
Though he brings grief, he will show compassion,
so great is his unfailing love.
For he does not willingly bring affliction
or grief to the children of men."
THIS PASSAGE COMPLETELY BLEW MY MIND!!! I'm still trying to process it, so this blog is my effort in doing just that.
In the past few weeks, I've been experiencing a whole lot more temptation and trial that usual – like WAY more – and I realized recently why that is. The devil is completely and totally afraid. Yup. Terrified. He isn't afraid of me, he's afraid of the INCREDIBLE God that is in me, and what He is capable of doing through me!!! The World Race is huge. I mean, it's kind of a big deal. 11 countries in 11 months = potential for HUGE impact! Impact on myself, on my fellow squad members, and (most importantly) on the individuals my squad and I will interact with in those countries. WE'RE TALKING COMPLETE LIFE-CHANGE FOR HUNDREDS, AND MAYBE EVEN THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE!!!! That's a huge threat to Satan, especially since many of the people who will be impacted are those who do not currently know Christ. So he is angry, scared, and trying his hardest to make sure that those lives are not changed, all while trying to destroy me as well. There are still a solid 10 months before we leave to go on this amazing journey, so I'm sure I haven't seen the end of Satan's efforts to sway me away from the Lord and this mission He has created me for. Whether he uses temptations, trials, financial discouragement, lies he tells me about myself – whatever he throws my way – it ain't gonna work!!! My God is huge and full of compassion and love for me and my fellow racers. Even though the Lord allows us to go through these hardships, He is always faithful to bring us out of them and into His great love and mercy! Likewise, as my squad and I face trials, He will bring us out of those pits and use us to bring LIGHT to this world! So, as Jesus put it: "Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men." (Matthew 16:23)
Yup.
I am so thankful that Jesus always wins. 
