That’s right – It’s not over until it’s over. No matter how long you’ve been living by faith, no matter how much you’ve learned about it, every once in a while, you’re going to suffer a setback. You’re going to run into some circumstances that just don’t turn out the way you expect them to. The current global pandemic is the perfect example. But look at this:

“Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world. But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you.” 1 Peter 5:9-10 (NKJV)

When challenges, obstacles and setbacks occur remember this: Those setbacks are temporary. You may have lost a battle, but you’re not going to lose the war. Just get up and go at it again.

You may have thoughts like: “But I don’t understand it. I did the best I could and walked in all the truth I knew. Why didn’t I have victory?”

There are times that we all experience this scenario. Keep this in mind. If you faithfully did all you knew to do… without victory, then it’s because there was something that you didn’t know! It shouldn’t shock you too much that there are things each of us still don’t know about God’s kingdom and the spiritual realm.

Paula and I have been in ministry since 1981 and along the way we’ve faced countless challenges. and have spent endless hours reading God’s word and learning His ways. The enemy who is against God and us, is called an evil genius and he never sleeps. He is constantly at work to deceive, steal, even kill us when given any opportunity. He works incessantly to destroy our relationships, our hope, our faith and our future.

So, when you get into a situation where you can’t seem to get victory, take time out and ask God for more wisdom. Draw close to Him. Press in to learn whatever you might have missed. If there is one thing I have learned, it is this: always learn and never give up. It’s never too late. Keep learning and keep growing and stand firm against the enemy.

In my younger years I learned painfully that not everything I learned from preachers and teachers is accurate. It is beneficial to at times evaluate your personal beliefs in order to make certain that you are standing solidly on the truth of God’s Word… not on a false doctrine or empty belief. Be cautious because there are many doctrines in today’s churches that sound good, feel good but are not good for you because they are not true to God’s word.

If you’ll look at 2 Samuel 21, you can see a time when King David had to do just what we’re discussing. His country had been suffering from a famine for three years and David just didn’t understand it. So he inquired of the Lord. He wanted to know why his people were suffering. You know what the Lord told him? He told him the famine had come because of something Saul had done! Isn’t that amazing? Saul had been dead for years, yet what Saul had put in motion in the spiritual realm was still affecting Israel during David’s reign.

David could have just given up when his usual exercises of faith and ways of praying didn’t drive out the famine. But David didn’t do it that way. He sought God for more wisdom. He used the temporary setback to learn additional knowledge from the Lord in order to receive the understanding he needed to overcome.

Too often we give up in frustration instead of pressing deeper toward God and His ways. There’s always an answer. Even when we can’t imagine what else we could do… there is a missing key.

The Holy Spirit was sent by God to reveal truth to you and me as we need it, yet, we must diligently seek truth. He is faithful… if we pursue. God always has an answer for every situation. There is never a time when there is no way out or when victory is not available.

Consider 2 Corinthians 2:14 which says, “Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place.”

Don’t give up. Be encouraged to continue until you win. Overcome the habit of quitting because of temporary setbacks. If you’ve been knocked down… get back up. The only thing that can cause you to lose – is to stop fighting.

Pardon my English, but whatever it is you are facing… the thing ain’t over till it’s over. And the Bible says when it’s all over, you will have won. So be steadfast in your faith. In the end – your victory is guaranteed.

Remember, with God nothing is impossible!