And pray that we may be delivered from wicked and evil people, for not everyone has faith. (2 Thess. 3:2)
Imagine yourself coaching a soccer team of four-and-five-year-olds. Every practice and game is full of young children picking flowers, running away from bees, and going the wrong way. Not exactly soccer. Is this not like life at times? Something catches our eye and takes us away from the Lord, or some fear chases us and we go running in any direction but to our heavenly Father. If we are honest, we could all say that we have times in life when we let people run away with our lives. And when this happens, we find ourselves taking steps away from God and who he has called us to be.
Not everyone who crosses our paths will have faith and be like-minded. That doesn’t mean they can’t be a part of our lives, but we need to remember that we are called to be set apart and live differently. This relational balance is a struggle, but in the midst of the struggle, God shows up and can use us to change the lives of those who cross our paths if we let him. God is in the business of using our struggles to create the most beautiful pieces of art.
Take time to acknowledge who God has brought into your life and why God has brought them to you.
Ask for your deliverance as well as that of nonbelievers.
Maggie Slusher is a young pastor who is passionate about transformational spiritual formation—at every age and season in life. She takes any chance to get outdoors.
© 2019 Wesleyan Publishing House. Reprinted from Light from the Word. Used by permission.
