Embracing the Good Fight: Overcoming Challenges and Embracing Your Spiritual Identity

God's Warrior Woman  ~ Janet’s Story

Have you ever felt like you were on the verge of something great and then life hit you with unexpected challenges and obstacles?

Or did you move in a new direction or try to accomplish a goal only to encounter roadblocks?

Seemingly out of nowhere, something broke down, you got sick, you experienced delays, your house got flooded, your car broke down, and on it goes.

We’ve all been there! Life is hard and sometimes right when you are on the verge of something great, life now has become a little harder. You took one step forward only to take two steps backwards.

Some years ago, I was scheduled to go on a short-term mission trip. Right before the trip, I became quite ill. It was a trip I really wanted, prayed about, and believed it to be my next step. It was a big step for me because I was single at the time. It had taken me quite a while to summon up the nerve to do it. Well, about a week before the trip was supposed to start, I came down with a severe cold or flu. I was very upset and it became a defining moment for me spiritually. What was I going to do? Was I going to give up or fight through this somehow? I got on the airplane to go, but I still wasn’t completely well.

My thinking at the time was, even if I die on the mission field, I’m at least doing what God wants me to do.

I can’t begin to recount how many times this type of scenario has repeated itself in my life. Maybe you can relate?

Like clockwork, each time I would embark on a trip or begin a project that I believed was God-inspired, challenges, setbacks, or disappointments would arise.

Some of the interruptions may have been a needed course adjustment, but many times I could tell it was spiritual warfare.

We often think that delays and setbacks are a sign from God that we should quit or that we’re on the wrong track. Or we may think… “Maybe it just wasn’t meant to happen.”

Maybe not, but what about if God is asking us how bad do we want it? What do we really believe? Will we trust Him, believe Him, and stand in faith on the promises He’s given us?

Will we trust Him, believe Him, and stand in faith on the promises He’s given us?

I’ve learned through many life experiences and challenges that persevering is so very important. It’s also a spiritual principle. When was the last time you heard a sermon on that topic? I can’t think of one recently. It really isn’t a topic that we hear much about these days. In our world of modern conveniences, we not only want it yesterday, but we also don’t want to have to persevere so much.

If you think about it in both sports and business, most successful people will tell you that anything worth having is worth persevering or fighting for it.

I love the quote by Dale Carnegie “Most of the important things in the world have been accomplished by people who have kept on trying when there seemed to be no hope at all.”

On a spiritual level, what if God is testing our resolve?

Have you ever thought about it that way? What if God is asking us how much we want it? How important is this to us? How willing are we to persevere and fight for it?

Picture yourself in a boxing ring and your challenge is your opponent. What are you going to do? Are you going to quit and throw in the towel and take the path of least resistance?  Or, are you going to fight?

As Christians, we don’t think about having to fight. However, the Apostle Paul talks doesn’t talk about a physical fight. He discusses a spiritual one. Life is a battle and so is our faith.

“The weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty for pulling down strongholds.” He admonishes us to… “Fight the good fight of faith.”. 2 Cor. 10:4;1Timothy 6:12

As a Christian life coach who works with women, my heart is for women to see their enormous potential and their identity in Christ. It is very sad for me when women don’t understand their significance, value or worth. I know the struggle firsthand and have wrestled with it in my own life. The struggle is real because we live in a negative world. It is so easy to allow the negativity and toxicity of the world to label, condemn us, and try to drown us in self-doubt.

To overcome this, we must choose to see ourselves as God sees us - His daughters, overcomers, and warriors against evil. Embracing this identity is a continuous fight that we must contend for and live by every day.

To overcome this, we must choose to see ourselves as God sees us - His daughters, overcomers, and warriors against evil. Embracing this identity is a continuous fight that we must contend for and live by every day.

At the end of the day, we have a choice; either get pulled into the world’s narrative or resist it. What matters is what we believe. Consider David and Goliath. When the shepherd boy David stood before the mighty Philistine giant Goliath, he didn’t have all the warfare training or armor that Goliath had. He had something more powerful: his belief in the name and power of the Lord that ultimately won the victory for him.

In the world we’re living in today and in our own battles in life, using our spiritual weapons is critical. What do we really believe and whose power we do lean on? God is not asking us to be more or have more. He wants us to trust more. If He has called us, we can rest assured He has equipped us and qualified us for the job.

So, my sister warrior this is the good fight of faith. It is a fight that is worth the effort. So let me encourage you to take up your spiritual sword and wield it with confidence. You can rest assured that God is for you and not against you and no giant you ever face is more powerful than God’s power at work in you and for you!

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You are not alone; God created you in His image, which means you have power and authority.  He has equipped you with His strength and boldness. I would love to connect more and give you a FREE gift - the Warrior Woman Workbook: Overcoming Through the Power of Prayer and Fasting. 

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 Janet Daughtry is an ordained minister, certified professional life coach, coach trainer, speaker, and author.  She holds a Master of Divinity Degree from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and several certifications in life and marriage coaching.

In addition to coaching clients nationally and internationally, Janet is a trainer and co-founder of Life Breakthrough Coaching and Academy that has trained and certified professional life coaches in over 60 countries.

She is the author of “Living a Great Life” and “The 30-Day Confidence Challenge Course for Women.” Her heartbeat and passion have always been to help women overcome limited thinking and to walk in their true potential and purpose in life. 

For more information about Janet and her coaching and speaking you may visit her website at http://www.coachjanet.com or http://www.lifebreakthroughcoaching.com