The Bible says: "As for Saul, he made havoc of the church, entering every house, and dragging off men and women, committing them to prison. Therefore those who were scattered went everywhere preaching the Word" (Acts 8:3-4 NKJV). How did the New Testament church grow? Through persecution. It's the bad times, not just the good ones, that cause us to grow. We receive direction through persecution. Sometimes those who attack us are agents of the Lord, without even knowing it. God uses them to get us to where we need to be, then, like Joseph, we look back years later and say, "You meant it for evil but God meant it for good" (Genesis 50:20). We cry because someone slammed a door in our face, but in retrospect we are able to say, "It was the best thing that could have happened to me."

The Psalmist wrote, "No good thing will He withhold from them that walk uprightly" (Psalm 84:11 NKJV). If God is allowing you to go through a tough time then it must be for your good. Or it's for the good of others and you are the instrument He's using to bring it about. Understanding this moves you to a deeper dimension in your walk with God.

But every new dimension brings a new level of opposition. The enemy won't give up without a fight. Whether the battle is over your family, your finances, your health, your business or your ministry, expect three things 1) The closer you get to victory the more intense the battle becomes. (2) What matters is not your comfort, but what you're called to do. (3) Your victory has been ordained by God, so keep fighting