Face Opposition Head On

You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. (1 John 4:4) 
 
When I was young, I played recreation basketball. I remember this one particular year I was moving up from one division to the next, and I was playing for a different team and with a different group of guys than I had in the years before. No one knew me. No one knew my skills and abilities. 
 
So in our third game of the season, we were in a game and losing pretty badly. The other team was bigger than us, stronger than us, and faster than us. Nothing we were doing seemed to be working.  
 
At some point in the fourth quarter, with despair on his face, our coach called a time out and as the players gathered on the sidelines, coach looked at everyone on the team. None of my teammates wanted to go in, overcome with fear. So I raised my hand. The coach said, “What do you want, Coates?” I said, “Put me in coach. I’m ready to play!” 
 
He said, “Do you see the size of the guys on the other team? They tower over you. Plus you’re the youngest guy on the team, and this is your first year.” He had a point, but despite all of that, I responded, “Coach, put me in. I’m ready to play because He that is within me is greater than the guys on the other team.”  
 
So I ran in to start playing, and we ended up winning the game. My point? When we face opposition, we shouldn’t run away. We shouldn’t be paralyzed by fear. Instead, we should face opposition head on. We should remember that our God is greater than anyone or anything we will face on this earth, and that His power within us is stronger than any power trying to oppose us. Let’s not live in fear of opposition, but let’s face opposition with courage, bravery, and strength that comes from our Heavenly Father.