Have you ever been in a place or in a situation where you’ve wondered,

“Maybe I don’t belong…”

You’ve found yourself in a place that makes you uncomfortable, and maybe you’ve started noticing things, analyzing behaviors, noticing patterns, finding “evidence”….

“I knew it! I don’t belong! Just look at A, B, C and D!”

Then you begin to “conclude” in your mind, that maybe you should just slowly back away. That maybe you should just slip away and no one will even notice because “I don’t think I fit in here anyway.”

In my life, I am realizing that most of the time, this is a tactic of enemy trying to convince me that I need to “retreat”.

There is a difference between the Lord’s leading us to “hold back“, and “retreating“.

“Retreat” is defined,

“withdraw from enemy forces as a result of their superior power or after a defeat.”

Often times, the enemy will attempt to scare, intimidate, confuse, and misinform us to get us to run from the very thing the Lord has set before us, the very thing He has placed in our path. The enemy may try to make us feel that we’re not good enough, not qualified enough, not spiritual enough, not gifted enough, not important enough, and that we don’t fit — that we don’t belong.

I am learning that when something is uncomfortable and I want to run, when I’m not feeling “capable” when I get the feeling that I don’t “belong”, when I find myself starting to wonder if “maybe I’m not….”, it’s probably the enemy trying to get me to move from the ground that I’ve already taken. It’s probably the enemy trying to discourage me from moving forward into something the Lord has for me. He’s trying to get into my mind, to get into my reasoning, and he’s trying to get me where I am most vulnerable. Trying to pull me away from a breakthrough that could be in store, or there could be a challenge to overcome, an opportunity for victory.

Lord, help us to see this! Help us to be aware of this! Give us the discernment we need!

Help us to quickly recognize a scheme of the enemy. Those traps in “camouflage” that try to take us off track.

Has the enemy convinced me that I don’t “belong”?

so. many. times.

Oh, he’s tried it, and I have let it work against me so many times in my life.

But the Lord is teaching me to be able to catch on to these attempts. I’m learning how to take notice so that I can quickly seek the Lord and put a stop to it before damage is done. Sometimes I can be a little slow, especially in the areas where I am vulnerable, but I’m catching on as the Lord walks me through.

I see what’s going on. I am aware now. Thank you, Jesus.

I say, by the grace of God, and by His mighty strength,

“I will not retreat! I will not back away. I will not back down. I will keep moving with you, Lord!”

“Come on!“, He says. “You’re invited!” ?

2 Corinthians 1:21-22 – Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.

1 John 4:4 – 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.

-Heather ?