Romans 16:20. The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you.
Do hardships come to the children of God? Absolutely. Jesus Himself made this clear when He said,
“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world, you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world” (John 16:33).
Trouble is not a sign that God has abandoned us—in fact, Jesus guaranteed that peace would accompany us in the midst of trouble. This is what sets believers apart from the world. Unbelievers face trials with fear, bitterness, or despair, but the children of God face the same storms with peace, hope, and the assurance of God’s victory.
Jesus did not merely win eternal redemption for us through His death and resurrection. On the cross, He crushed the head of the ancient serpent, Satan, securing not only our salvation but also our daily victory. His triumph over sin, death, and the world is now our triumph. Because of that, every trial, hardship, or temptation we face is under His sovereign control and will ultimately serve His purpose.
God often uses suffering to reveal something far greater than we could ever imagine. Paul reminds us,
“No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it” (1 Corinthians 10:13).
What looks like a dead end is often God’s hidden doorway into something new. No matter how bleak or impossible your current circumstances may appear, you will not be overcome—you will come out victorious.
History testifies to this truth. God has never once failed His people, no matter how severe their suffering. Hebrews 11 lists those “of whom the world was not worthy”—saints who endured unspeakable persecution, yet not a single one was destroyed. All of them overcame the world by faith. Consider the first church in Jerusalem. After Pentecost, they experienced powerful growth but were soon met with fierce persecution. Stephen’s martyrdom (Acts 7) appeared tragic, but it became the spark of a worldwide gospel movement.
Luke recorded what happened next: “On that day a great persecution broke out against the church in Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria… Those who had been scattered preached the word wherever they went” (Acts 8:1, 4). That scattering led Philip to Samaria, where revival broke out, and later to the Ethiopian eunuch, opening the door of the gospel to Africa. Persecution was not the end—it was God’s method. What seemed like suffering was actually sending.
This pattern continues throughout church history. Every wave of persecution fueled even greater movements of the gospel. The Word of God continued to grow and spread in power (Acts 6:7; 12:24; 19:20). Despite efforts from ten Roman emperors to wipe out the church over 200 years, they failed. The more the Church was struck, the stronger it became—like yeast working through the whole batch of dough, the gospel spread until it transformed the very empire that tried to destroy it.
This is the power of Christ. He is the gospel. And if God is for us, no one can be against us (Romans 8:31). Whatever trouble you face today, know this: you are more than a conqueror through Christ who loves you (Romans 8:37). Nothing in heaven or earth—not trouble, hardship, persecution, or danger—can separate you from His love (Romans 8:39).
God has allowed the trials in your life not to harm you, but to fulfill His eternal purpose through you. The trials themselves are not the goal—the gospel advancing through those trials is. Paul viewed his own imprisonment this way: “Now I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that what has happened to me has actually served to advance the gospel” (Philippians 1:12).
So don’t be deceived by appearances. Don’t give in to fear or unbelief. Instead, rest in the peace of Christ and hold firmly to the promise that “the God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet” (Romans 16:20).
Prayer. Father, I rest in Your peace, knowing that You lead me to victory in every circumstance. Guard my heart from unbelief when trials come. Open my eyes to see Your greater plan unfolding through every challenge. In Jesus’ name, Amen.