Don’t Hand The Enemey The Pen

IWM Devotional: Don’t Hand The Enemy the Pen  
Scripture: 2 Corinthians 2:15-16, “For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing, to one a fragrance from death to death, to the other a fragrance from life to life. Who is sufficient for these things?” 

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Word For Today

Some seasons are so heavy that it feels like you can’t breathe. Some situations are so challenging that you wake up wondering, “How much more of this can I take?” If your life ended today, the enemy would win. Because the story he’s been trying to write for you is “she gave up, or she couldn’t make it.”

But you’re still here. And as long as you’re breathing, God’s not finished writing. Don’t hand the enemy the pen now. Don’t let the enemy take control of your story. Don’t agree with his version of how it ends. Don’t surrender to his lie that it’s over. The pen is still in God’s hand, and it belongs there.

Isaiah 40:28-29 says, “Have you not known? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength.”  

You’re tired of holding on, I know it. You’ve prayed the same prayer so many times it feels like the words bounce off the ceiling. You’ve done what God asked, and the situation still looks dead.  

And in that place, the enemy starts writing. He whispers, “See? Nothing changed. You’re wasting your time. Just stop.” Sister, do you know what? He wants you to close the book on yourself right here, right now.  

I’ll tell you something. There was a time I was in that place (of course, we all sometimes are in places like this).  I was going through some personal issues that felt like they would never pass. Every morning it was the same weight. Every night I’d lie there thinking, “Can this just be over? Can I just wake up and have it gone?” I was tired of feeling that way. Tired of pretending I was okay. If I’m honest, I almost believed the lie that this was how my story ended.

But God came through. Not always how I wanted, not always on my timeline. But He met me right in that faint, weary place and gave me strength I didn’t have on my own. That’s why I’m saying this to you, sister, don’t give up, please.  What you’re in right now is not the end of the story.

But Paul reminds us that we are the aroma of Christ. Your life is not meaningless. Your endurance, even when it’s messy and quiet, carries the scent of Christ to people around you. Some will reject it. Some will be drawn to life because of it. But your story matters either way.

And here’s why you can keep going, you’re not running on your own fuel. The God who holds the universe together doesn’t get tired of you. He doesn’t run out of patience, power, or understanding for your situation.  

You feel faint? Good. That’s exactly where He meets you. He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might. He increases strength. You don’t need to manufacture strength today. You need to stop and let Him refill you.  The fact that you’re still standing, still reading this, still choosing not to quit, that’s proof He’s been carrying you.

The enemy wants your surrender. God wants your surrender too, but to Him, not to despair. Hand him the pen. Let Him write the next chapter, sister. 

Prayer  

Lord, I’m tired. I don’t have the strength to keep going on my own.  But you don’t grow weary. So I’m asking you to give me your strength right now.  Remind me that my story isn’t over. Don’t let me give up what You haven’t given up on. In Jesus name, amen.

Reflection 

Where are you tempted to quit? Write it down. Then pray this, “God, I hand You the pen for this.”


Scripture quotation taken from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®)
© 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. All rights reserved.