God is For You!

Have you ever wondered if God is really for you? Here’s a lesson I learned about how to view my weaknesses.

My son played on his high school basketball team when he was a teenager. We loved sitting in the bleachers and cheering him on.

At one game, I noticed a man on the home side of the court videoing the action. I also spotted another man on the opposing side doing the same.

“Steve, who are those men with the cameras, and why are they recording the game?” I asked my husband.

“The guy in the opposing stands is from the team we’ll be playing next week,” he explained. “He’s recording the game to study our weaknesses, so they’ll know where to attack and defeat us.”

“And the man on our side?” I asked.

“He’s recording the game too—also looking for weaknesses—but for a different reason. He’ll show our team where they need to improve so they can grow stronger and play better.”

Same video. Different purposes.

That truth hit me hard.

I don’t know much about sports, but I do know a bit about how the devil works. He studies the video of our lives, looking for weaknesses to exploit—to plan his attack, to trip us up at just the opportune time (Luke 4:13).

But remember—there were two men recording my son’s game.

Just as the accuser is against you, Someone else is for you: the Holy Spirit.

Before Jesus went to the cross, He assured His followers that He would not leave them as orphans (John 14:18). He promised to send the Spirit—the Helper (John 15:26)—who would encourage, enlighten, empower, and intercede for all believers (Romans 8:26).

Then Jesus gave Him another name: the Advocate.

“But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you” (John 14:26).

An advocate is someone who is for you and acts on your behalf. Yes—He is for us! We’re on the same team.

One of the ways He shows that He is for us is through conviction. He points out our weaknesses—not to shame us, but to strengthen us.

The Holy Spirit never reveals a flaw just to expose it. He reveals it to restore us, to refine us, to conform us to the image of Christ.

He replays the video and says, “Right there. See that moment? Let’s work on that. Let’s grow stronger.”

Isn’t that what Jesus did with Peter?

After Peter denied knowing Jesus three times, the devil replayed the footage and the rooster crowed, “Shame, shame, shame. You’re a failure.”

But after the resurrection, Jesus showed Peter the same video and asked him three times, “Peter, do you love Me?” (John 21:15–17). “Grace, grace, grace. Get back in the game!”

Same video. Different purpose.

The enemy wanted Peter to feel disqualified.
Jesus restored him and sent him back into the game energized.

While the accuser points out our weaknesses to convince us we can never change, the Advocate points out our weaknesses so that we can.

It’s the same video—seen from a different perspective.

So, whose voice will you listen to today? Whose voice will you believe?

Condemnation or conviction? The destroyer or the developer? The voice we listen to will shape our destiny.

Remember this today:

The Advocate is for you.
Jesus is for you.
God is for you.

It’s time to get back in the game.

What is one area of your life the Advocate is encouraging you to improve on today? Leave a comment and let’s share.

Lord, thank You for being for me. When I replay the video of my failures, help me not to get stuck there—but to grow there. Thank You for the Holy Spirit who lovingly convicts, strengthens, and changes me. Conform me to the image of Christ. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Digging Deeper

Speaking of being STUCK. So many are stuck in their faith…not growing, maybe going backwards. But it doesn’t have to be that way. In Take Hold of the Faith You Long For we look at how to let go of everything that holds us back, move forward from the stuck places, and live bold with the giant slaying, mountain moving faith you’ve always longed for.