Author Darlene J. Conard

After several days of battling a stomach virus and sinus infection, receiving the devastating news of a close family member, coping with the unexpected death of my cousin and my mom’s heart palpitating, and facing various spiritual challenges, I felt utterly overwhelmed. It seemed like one thing after another, and I was struggling to cope with the emotional and physical toll it was taking on me.

This morning, I heard this song in my spirit: “Satan, your kingdom is coming down, Lord, we declare Your glory, and we declare Your victory in this place!”

“God, You’re up to something — aren’t You?”  During that time, He directed me to the stories in His Word, where it seemed like His people were defeated, but God was setting a trap to ensnare the enemy.

We must remember that when we seek Him wholeheartedly, He won’t ignore us!

God’s reminder echoes through history: many battles have been won by just a few or even a lone warrior.

The intricacy of God’s divine plans often astounds humanity. He selects the most unlikely individuals and empowers them for His holy purpose. When God starts removing specific individuals from your life, it’s a sign that He is preparing you for something significant. Some are only absent for a season.

The blacksmith expertly manipulates the sword in the intense heat of the flames, carefully calculating the precise number of hammer blows required to craft it into the perfect shape for the severities of war. The process of tempering a sword involves exposing it to heat for a specific duration. If the sword is heated for too long, it will result in excessive hardening, making it brittle and prone to shattering. On the other hand, if it is not heated for a sufficient amount of time, the sword will be too soft and lack the necessary strength for effective use in combat. Therefore, achieving the optimal balance in the tempering process is crucial to ensure that the sword possesses the ideal combination of hardness and flexibility.

God confronted Satan concerning Joshua, asking, “Is this not a brand plucked from the fire?” God affirmed Joshua as a brand used to stir and smolder fire, passing through the flames unscathed. Satan sought to belittle Joshua’s significance in light of his destined future. In response, God ordered the removal of Joshua’s filthy garments. (Zechariah 3:1-5)

Keep in mind that God possesses the ability to transform both us and our circumstances. He is shaping us for the upcoming intense struggles that will ultimately bring glory to Him and deepen our connection with Him.

“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.” Jeremiah 29:11 KJV

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