Acts 23, 24 and 25: Paul had faced opposition from the moment he placed faith in Christ, at first from believers who were skeptical, then from unbelievers. Paul understood what it meant to have his back against the wall.

The colloquialism means you have no other course in a situation than to either give up or move forward and face what has put you against the wall.

Paul’s wall is that he is no longer threatened by citizens, but now he’s brought before national leaders. He can give up or push forward

Like Paul, we all experience moments against the wall. I encouraged you to keep pushing forward no matter what. How Paul responded in the situation teaches us valuable lessons. When your back is against the wall, you need to remain committed to the word of God.

Paul could have easily given up, but instead he faced it with a commitment to the word of God. He responded to opposition with the Word of God. The Bible says Paul had to know the word before he could respond with it. This a great reason why we need to spend time in the word daily, not just when we are going through trials.

Paul was committed to obeying the word. When Paul learned who Ananias was, he wanted to be respectful because of what the law commanded (Exodus 22:28, "Do not... curse the ruler of the people.")

People of God, when your back is against the wall, you need to rely on God’s providence. God has always and will always care for us, and because of that care he will not allow anything to destroy our lives as long as we rely upon him. God’s providence causes the events of our lives, good and bad, to be used by God to accomplish his purpose for our lives.

Paul understood this instead. So instead of panicking or despair, he relied on God’s providence (Romans 8:28). And we know that all things work together for good to them who love God, to them who are called according to his purpose. That explains how God’s providence affects our lives today.

So, people of God, when your back is against the wall have courage and conviction. God is bigger than any wall we’re backed against. No matter what you’re facing keep your faith! No matter what the enemy is plotting against you, hang in there! God has your back!

Let me encourage, no matter what we are facing, no matter what has us against the wall, there’s God sitting high and looking low. Remember providence equals God’s faithful and effective care, and guidance of everything he has made toward the end he has chosen.

Question for us all to contemplate: "What is your only comfort in life and death?" Answer should be like: "That I, with body and soul, both in life and in death, am not my own, but belong to my faithful Savior Jesus Christ who so preserves me that without the will of my Father in heaven not a hair can fall from my head; yea, that all things must work together for my salvation even when my back is against a wall."

Heath is pastor of Revelation Life Center in Hinesville.