You Can Swim Against The Tide

How do you overcome challenges in your life and fulfil the purpose/destination of  your life?

Let’s dive into this topic today.

Nehemiah 6:11 says, ‘But I said, “Should a man like me run away? Or should someone like me go into the temple to save his life? I will not go!”’

Nehemiah is a working man, working at the King's Palace. His job was to pour the wine into the cup of the King, a job that is bestowed upon only the lost trusted ally. Nehemiah was considered as the most trusted man in the King's palace. Nehemiah was able to grow into a high and trusted position in a foreign land. Nehemiah while away in a foreign land heard some sad news about Israel. He heard that the walls of Israel were broken and the temples were shut. Hearing this Nehemiah broke down in tears, he prayed and fasted for four months.
 
One day the King himself asked Nehemiah why he was gloomy and did not seem like his usual self. Nehemiah told The King the reason and he was granted permission and was released from his duties for a brief time to allow him to rebuild the walls of Israel. The King also provided him all the amenities he needed for his journey to Israel. Once Nehemiah reached Israel, he mobilised people and commenced the work. Just as he started work on the rebuilding, several obstacles started seeping up. This is true even today, whenever anybody sets about to do anything that is good, often enough there is someone or something hindering their progress. If you ever try to be different or do something that is not the norm and if you especially set about to do anything in the name of the Lord, there are often obstacles and ridicule that follow it.
 
Essentially Nehemiah, a butler, is taking on the role of a civil engineer, rebuilding the walls of an entire city. Several people, particularly Sanballat and Tobiah started contesting against Nehemiah and ridiculing his capacity to build the wall, discouraging him throughout. Nehemiah then one day hears some threats and the verse above which is Nehemiah 6:11, is the rhetorical questions that he asked.

Even I have personally faced this in my life on several occasions. I’ve observed that whenever we see the ministry going forward in full swing, we get letters, phone calls and notifications with perverse and threatening writings, intended to hurt us, intended to destroy our peace. My point is, if you want to go forward in your life you have to be able to face the obstacles.
 
The analogy here is of a fish swimming the current? Just going with the flow, chances are that it’s dead. However, a fish that is alive will go whatever way it pleases and only a fish that is alive can swim against the current.

The Holy Spirit dwells in us and as long as he is with us, he has also given us the strength to face such obstacles. Hence swimming against the current is a special talent that God has given the fish. I’ve heard a fact that, in a particular country, I forget the name of the country, restaurants serve a special kind of fish. This fish was primarily available in places with strong currents and to procure them became very difficult. So they decided to breed this fish in a water body from where they could easily procure them. However, when that fish was served, many people complained that it did not taste good. After a lot of research they concluded that this specific kind of fish continually swims against the current and when that happens it's tissues and flesh is the tastiest.
 
Our God has also designed us to move forward despite obstacles. Our body itself is designed to go forward as every part of our body is front facing. So when a challenge comes in your life, do not back out, face it and go forward.

2 Timothy 3:12 says, ‘In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted,’

When Jesus came to the earth as man, He was constantly ridiculed with many attempts being made to kill Him. Especially after He turned 30, after He commenced His ministry, He had to face several challenges. Always remember that when you set about doing a good thing, not everybody will encourage you. It’s not easy to swim against the current as it takes a lot of effort. People will constantly comment on you but you have to be steadfast in your faith and your purpose and move forward without being discouraged.
 
In this world, there is also a continuous flow of sin and as a child of God we must flow against that current as well. Paul, when he went to several places to profess about the Lord, he faced many challenges. He faced ridicule, he was stoned, injured and persecuted. When God opens a door for you, even if it’s your Godly purpose, Satan will instigate some people in his spirit to move against you. If you know this, you will know that these challenges are brought on by the devil to stop you from fulfilling the promise of the Lord, and you must overcome it. If God has called you for a purpose, He will also bestow you with the strength and the anointing to move forward.

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About The Author:

Dr. Damien Antony
Born and brought up in a Christian family, Dr. Damien Antony possessed an unquenching quest for truth right from his boyhood days and eventually his relentless search led him to the Bible. He is a Revival Preacher, Bible Teacher, Leadership Trainer, Author and a Life Coach. He moves under the anointing for Prophetic, Healing, Deliverance, Inner Healing and Financial Breakthrough. God has also blessed him with an Apostolic Mandate to take the Universal Body of Christ to the next level of revelation and anointing.