They say that there is a first time for everything. Indeed, we look forward to all the ‘firsts’ in our lives. I have been overloaded with ‘firsts’:

-Married
-Graduated College
-Preached a revival
-Took a church pastorate
-Moved into an apartment
-Became a resident of Kansas
-Had literally no friends close by

Between all these things I went into panic mode. I have a blessing and curse of being detached from the emotional side of an issue when it occurs. This is a blessing because I can minister quite effectively in a crisis. This is bad because a few weeks later I will “randomly get depressed”. This has been my state the last week.

My wife is still unemployed, despite numerous attempts, and the pantry isn’t getting any fuller. I called my two closest friends for advise. One of them told me: “Phill, give it a few months. It is too much too quick. You’ve probably never had so many firsts in your life. Give it time, it’ll be fine”.

He’s right. I will be ok. Life sometimes blindsides all of us, and that’s when Satan moves like a (pun intended) bat out of hell. It is in these moments that faith is tested. And when we start to get on the right track, Satan throws us a curve ball. It is in those moments we must be deep in prayer and the Scriptures to see the situation as just that–a curve ball from Satan.

That’s when you pick up the Louisville Slugger of the Spirit and knock that bad boy right back to hell where it came from! God has given us the power to overcome the wiles of Satan; don’t fret because it’s “the bottom of the ninth and the bases are loaded” because that’s when God will give you the power and grace to strike Satan out!