Every Crisis in Our Lives Is an Opportunity
Responding to Crisis with Faith
In every crisis, we face a choice: will we react in fear, or will we respond according to God’s action? The story of Elisha in 2 Kings 6:18-23 teaches us that the size of our struggles should never determine our view of God’s power.
Seeing Beyond the Battle
The presence of God’s invisible army did not stop the Syrian army from attacking Elisha. Just because we belong to God does not mean we won’t face opposition. When Elisha was confronted, he fought back—not with swords, but with prayer. He prayed, and miracles happened.
- Verse 18: Elisha asked God to strike the enemy with blindness, and He did. This was not total blindness but a spiritual confusion that prevented them from recognizing him.
- Verse 19-23: Elisha led the blinded army to Samaria, where their eyes were opened. Instead of being slaughtered, they were treated with kindness and sent home. The lesson? Our real battle is not against people but against spiritual forces.
The Power of Prayer Over Darkness
One of my best friends in Haiti grew up with a mother who was a Voodoo Priest. Every year, she would hold ceremonies calling on spirits. My friend used to leave the house during these rituals, but one year, he decided to stay and pray in his room instead. Despite all her efforts, the spirits did not respond. When she investigated, she found her son praying and reading his Bible.
She told him later, “I know Jesus is more powerful than these spirits, but if I leave them, they will kill me.” Her words echo a deeper truth: many are spiritually blind and enslaved to fear. Yet, where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is power and freedom.
Spiritual Warfare: How to Recognize and Resist the Devil’s Two Main Tactics
A Spiritual Battle, Not a Physical One
Ephesians 6 reminds us that our battle is not against flesh and blood but against spiritual forces. The enemy wants to deceive, discourage, and distract us. That is why Paul urges us to put on the full armor of God and stand firm.
When we are clothed in God’s armor:
- The enemy is frustrated when we hold onto hope despite life’s struggles.
- He cannot shake our faith, even in loss or uncertainty.
- We realize that, with Christ, we are more than conquerors.
Letting God Take Over
What battles are you facing today? Are there situations where victory seems impossible? I invite you to join me in a journey of surrender—learning to trust God and seeing every crisis as an opportunity for Him to work.
Take a moment to pray. Lay your battles before God. Ask Him to change your perspective and intervene in your situation.
It was a joy to share God’s Word with the congregation at Faith Bible Church in Winnipeg. You can listen to these sermons by visiting: https://faithbiblechurch.ca/sermon-speaker/samuel-bernard/
Hey remember, Keep trusting, keep believing. If you’re still above ground, God’s not done with you yet!
Samuel Bernard (aka Sammy) is originally from Haiti, where
he grew up practicing voodoo with his mother and was
rejected by his father before birth. He survived the
devastating 2010 earthquake in Haiti that claimed over
300,000 lives. Sammy is a graduate of Millar College of the
Bible with a Bachelor’s degree in Biblical Studies and holds a
Master of Divinity (M.Div) from the Canadian Southern
Baptist Seminary. He is the author of Warrior in Training for
men Bible study. He is married to Leah, and together they
have three beautiful children.
