Monday Memo 1254: Opposition Plays a Purpose
I've coached many people over the years regarding their creative purpose, and I’ve seen it time and time again. They make a commitment to go to Africa and their car transmission goes out. They commit to write and they lose their job. They decide to start their business and a recession begins. One of the quickest ways to become discouraged in your purpose journey is to assume that obedience will eliminate opposition.
Some people believe that if God is truly leading them, then doors will open easily, people will support them enthusiastically, and circumstances will cooperate naturally. Paul’s life teaches something very different. In fact, one of the clearest signs that Paul had stepped into his assignment wasn't the absence of resistance but the presence of it. I know I've written on this before, but it’s such a prevalent problem that it's worthy of more attention.
As soon as Paul and Barnabas were sent out from Antioch in Acts 13, opposition appeared. Before they had gone very far, they encountered Elymas the sorcerer, a man who actively resisted their message and attempted to influence the local ruler against them. That's significant because it's an example of my main point: resistance often arises the moment purpose begins to go public. Paul had spent years preparing quietly, but now that he was stepping into visible assignment, conflict surfaced almost immediately.
Have you ever stepped out in faith only to find resistance waiting for you almost immediately? I know I have. In fact, it’s happening as I write. I know I'm to go to Pakistan but suddenly my finances are in temporary drought mode. So I have postponed a planned trip twice. Perhaps you started something new, made an important transition, shared an idea, or pursued a dream God placed in your heart, only to encounter criticism, misunderstanding, or opposition. Those moments can make you question whether you heard God correctly. Paul’s experience reminds us that resistance is not always evidence you are off track. Sometimes it's evidence that you are finally moving in the right direction. I still believe I am to visit Pakistan where my books are being translated and my material being taught.
Not all resistance comes from outside us, however. Some of the greatest enemies of purpose are internal. Fear, anxiety, insecurity, comparison, and wrong thinking can oppose purpose just as effectively as critics or persecution. Sometimes the battle is not with people around us but with thoughts within us. I have found that many people delay purpose not because God has failed to speak, but because fear has become louder than obedience.
Paul certainly faced external resistance, but he also understood internal struggle. He wrote openly about weakness, pressure, concern, and hardship. Courage isn't the absence of those realities. Courage is continuing despite them. That's why renewing your mind is so important in a life of purpose. Wrong thinking can quietly sabotage obedience. If you constantly focus on what could go wrong, what others may think, or why you feel unqualified, you can talk yourself out of the very thing God prepared you to do.
So how am I handling the Pakistan delay? I pray, tell others of my plans, and set a faith date to go, trusting that God will guide my steps. When I tell people where I want to do and they raise an eyebrow, I control my self-talk that God is in control of planes and the skies and runways in which they fly and on which they land. And I remind myself that God helped me build a school in Africa by faith; He can provide for my trip as well.
Not all opposition is internal, however. I've learned over the years that some people only support you when you stay in the role they expect you to occupy. The moment you grow, shift, or move into something new, their support changes. Not everyone applauds movement because movement disrupts familiar patterns. That does not mean you are wrong to move forward.
When I left pastoral ministry to focus fully on purpose work, not everyone understood the decision. Some people thought I was making a mistake. Others quietly distanced themselves because my new direction no longer fit their expectations. Yet I knew I could not remain where I was and still obey what God was showing me. Purpose sometimes requires the courage to disappoint people in order to obey God.
Purpose also attracts spiritual resistance because meaningful purpose changes lives. Paul wasn't merely traveling or speaking publicly. He was challenging systems, confronting falsehood, and introducing people to truth. That kind of work always creates conflict somewhere because darkness doesn't quietly surrender influence.
This doesn't mean you should become paranoid or see every inconvenience as spiritual warfare. Sometimes difficulties are simply part of life. Yet it does mean you should not be surprised when meaningful purpose encounters meaningful resistance. Jesus Himself warned that following Him would involve difficulty. Paul lived that reality daily.
What matters most is your response. Opposition can make you fearful, defensive, or discouraged. Or it can strengthen your resolve and clarify your dependence on God. Resistance has a way of revealing whether your commitment is emotional or deeply rooted.
Perhaps you're facing resistance right now. Maybe people don't understand your direction. Maybe progress feels harder than you expected. Maybe criticism, obstacles, or disappointment have caused you to question yourself. If so, remember Paul. Opposition didn't mean God had abandoned him. It meant his purpose was advancing into territory where resistance was inevitable. Opposition doesn’t mean He has abandoned you (or me) either.
God never promised Paul an easy road, but He did promise to guide, strengthen, and use him. The same is true for you. Purpose attracts resistance, but resistance doesn't have to stop purpose.
Your Turn
What resistance are you currently facing in an area where you believe God is leading you? Instead of immediately viewing it as failure, ask whether it may actually be connected to your obedience and growth.
What Would Paul Ask You?
Have you allowed internal fear or external opposition to stop what God told you to begin?
Purpose Moment
Ask God for wisdom to recognize the difference between correction and resistance. Then ask Him to strengthen your thinking, steady your emotions, and give you courage to continue moving forward despite opposition.