"if you’ve bought the lie that you’re not going to make it, the Enemy is at your table."

A thought by Louie Giglio, from his book, Don't Give the Enemy a Seat at Your Table. (p. 54). Thomas Nelson, Kindle Edition. (Click on the book title to go to Amazon to buy the book.)

Is that what you feel? Is it?

Louie says, "This voice tells you that life is hopeless. There’s no way out. May as well just chuck it all, quit, and die.

"So often when we are asked how things are going, we reply with answers like, 'Man, I don’t know if I’m going to make it through this season. I’m not sure I’m going to survive this semester. I don’t know if I’m going to get through this time."

He goes on, "Have you ever heard yourself saying something like that? Where did you get that kind of thinking? Where did you hear those words of gloom and doubt? Not from your Good Shepherd. You likely heard them from the Enemy at your table.

"See, your God has just told you that even though you walk through the valley of the shadow of death, you don’t need to fear any evil. Did you catch the operative word in this sentence: through? Your Shepherd didn’t just say you’re going to the valley. He said you are going through the valley. In other words—you are going to make it."

He continues, "That’s 'even though / I will' faith being developed in you. Even though times are tough, God’s rod and staff are with you. Even though times are hard, you are not alone. God knows you’re going through a hard time. He knows the way is dark. He hasn’t promised to deliver you from the trouble. He’s promised to see you through the trouble. There’s a big difference."

Louie then says, "You will not find the Good Shepherd telling you that you’re not going to make it. You will never find the Good Shepherd telling you that life is hopeless, there’s no way out. Why not chuck it all, quit, and die? That is not the voice of the Good Shepherd. The Good Shepherd says, We’re going through this valley, and I’m going to be with you all the way through. And guess what—we’re going to have a story to tell on the other side."

And it will be a very good story, won't it?

Yes, yes!

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