All of us are going to face opposition. Jesus gives us strength in the face of adversity. We don’t have to rely on our own wisdom or might but find our resolve in him. When critics come against us we need to find refuge in Christ. Let him fight our battles for us.
Ezekiel 3:8, 14
“Behold, I have made your face strong against their faces, and your forehead strong against their foreheads. So the Spirit lifted me up and took me away, and I went in bitterness, in the heat of my spirit; but the hand of the LORD was strong upon me.”
Strength In the Midst
Adversity comes to everyone. How you go through it is entirely up to the Lord. There are some who are equipped to face it with love and grace, while others he gives an exit to avoid it, and to some, he gives the strength to meet it head-on. Ezekiel is facing some significant opposition, and it isn’t making him happy. In fact, it is causing bitterness and anger inside of him. The Lord strengthened him against his adversaries. He made him headstrong and immovable. When the time came, the Holy Spirit took him away.
He Will Get You Through
God will give us everything we need to deal with the adversity in our lives. He didn’t remove Ezekiel from the difficulty until it was time. Ezekiel had to go through it and suffer the pain of being at odds with other people. He didn’t cave under pressure or run at the first sign on trouble. God will rarely remove you from your trials, but he will give you everything you need to go through them. Trust him and seek his face in your hour of adversity.
The Side Effects
One more note. This battle didn’t leave Ezekiel unscarred. It left him bitter and angry. Not every adversity ends well. It is vital for us to move past our pain and get over our bitterness and anger. This can linger for years if we don’t let the Spirit get ahold of our lives. The deeper the wound, the longer it usually takes to recover. Understand this; through it, all the hand of the Lord will always be strong upon you. Never doubt it. It will reveal itself in the most special and unique ways.