Hey ya’ll! Today’s blog title is a familiar one but, befitting for such a time as this. I’m sorry for sounding preachy, but I couldn’t think of a better way to phrase it. Thanks for understanding! 🙂

So, let me begin with a little background history about the title, “We Shall Overcome”. I don’t want to insult anyone’s intelligence whatsoever, but this is NOT my original title so I must give credit to where credit is due. “We Shall Overcome” is a revered protest song, originated by folk singer, Pete Seeger, that has undoutbtedly resonated not only within the African American community, but throughout the entire world (McCollum, Sean). The beloved song was referenced in Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s “Last Sunday Sermon” in March of 1968 and have been sung on countless occassions as an anthem to freedom movements (McCollum, Sean). Some words that come to mind when I hear the words “We Shall Overcome” are strength, boldness, and comfort. The lyrics of the song are simple yet powerful as it is the ultimate declaration to prevail against struggle. 

I like the term “We” in the title because it includes EVERYONE. Get this, no one is excluded (this is going to be key as you read on). The term “will” in the title is important because it is being used to make a promise. This is good news because no one is excluded from the promise. How many of you know that God’s promise is for ALL of us, IF we believe?

We shall overcome!

Overcome, what? Sadly enough, we are still in a struggle. In case you’re wondering what kind of struggle(s), just turn on your T.V or read the headlines of your local newspaper. Listen in on your local radio station conversations or take a look at your social media newsfeed. Today, I read while strolling down my Instagram feed, another innocent, young, black male, Ahmaud Arbery, “MURDERED”.

You’ll see that the world is undergoing all kinds of turmoil and destruction. There’s senseless shootings, killings, and kidnappings. On the otherhand, there’s sickness and disease…the most recent COVID-19 that has claimed the lives of so many. It is disheartening to watch the news nowadays because it’s seemingly filled with more negatives than positives.

If I can be honest, some of us don’t have to turn on the news to know that “the struggle is real.” Some of us are experiencing firsthand unemployment, sickness, broken homes, financial instability, excuse my wording but downright hell.

John 10:10 says, “The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy.” This includes our youth, our sons and daughters, sisters and brothers, neighbors and friends, pastors, teachers, and official leaders. Again, no one is excluded. But NEVER fear!

The Bible says, “Many are the afflictions [pain, distress, grief, misery] of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all” (Psalm 34:19, NKJ). Notice that the text does not say that the Lord delivers him out of “some” or a “few” of them, but ALL.

No matter what your struggle or affliction may be, be it racial oppression, depression, lack of income, addiction, grief of the lost of a loved one, suicidal thoughts, loneliness, anxiety or whatever, remember that when you have a relationship with God, He has the power to deliver you and change your situation.

David said, “I sought the Lord, and He heard me, and delivered me from all my fears…This poor man cried out, and the Lord heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles…” (Psalm 34:4-6, NKJV).

When you have a relationship with God, you don’t have to worry or be anxious about anything (Phillipians 4:6). We have assurance from Him. The Lord spoke in Psalm 91:14-16 saying, “Because he has set his love upon me, therefore I will deliver him; I will set him on high because he has known my name; He shall call upon me and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him and honor him. With long life I will satisfy him and show him My salvation” (NKJV). Catch this ya’ll, there goes “I will”. There’s our promise!

I am so glad that God is not a man that He should lie. In fact, our Heavenly Father says, “Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away” (Matt. 24:35, NKJV).

Our God is too mighty for us to believe that we are doomed, our situation is dead, and that there is no hope. God is too great for us to live timid, ashamed, and/or broken-hearted. I believe it was Paul who asked the question, “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it it written: For thy sake we are killed all day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us” (Romans 8:35-37, NKJV).

I highlight, “We are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.” “Conqueror” is key! In order to conquer something, you must….OVERCOME.

If you haven’t done so already, declare it with me, as the lyricist eloquently, yet courageously wrote, “We Shall Overcome!” It’s a promise! It was then and it is now.

Smile loves this has been yet another heart to heart, I love you!

  

Work Cited

McCollum, Sean. “We Shall Overcome: The story behind the Song.” The Kennedy Center.org. 17 Sept. 2019. Web. 8 May 2020.