The biblical meaning is similar, although its application for a Christian means more than the world’s idea of survival or even success. The word translated “overcome” in the New Testament comes from the Greek nikaō (or nike), carrying the sense of conquering, prevailing or gaining victory.
A believer becomes an overcomer through perseverance in faith when faced with trials. A biblical overcomer remains faithful to the Lord and obedient to his word, no matter how great the temptation to refuse the hardships this might entail. Ultimately, some of the greatest overcomers of the Christian faith are martyrs who love not their lives unto death.
“For Your 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. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:37-39)
An Example of Courage and Conviction
Many of us have heard of great heroes of the faith. One remarkable example is Desmond Doss, whose story inspired the film Hacksaw Ridge.
Guided by strong personal convictions and God’s call to him, Doss served during World War II as a US Army medic but refused to bear arms or take a life. When sent to fight in the Pacific arena, in the battle to take Japan, Desmond faced not only the extreme mental and physical deprivation and suffering common to those with whom he fought; he was also bullied, as he was perceived as a coward by the other men.
But when his unit suffered terrible losses on Hacksaw Ridge, and was forced to retreat, it was Desmond alone who remained. He believed he had heard God’s call single-handedly to save as many of his comrades as he could, a feat for which he received the Congressional Medal of Honour – the nation’s highest award for courage under fire. On the 5th May 1945, Desmond saved no fewer than 75 wounded men, one by one, lowering them down the cliff to safety. You can read the full story of Desmond’s incredible bravery here: Desmond Doss: The Real Story
His story offers a powerful example of courage rooted in conviction, particularly when doing what you believe is right comes at a personal cost.
A Christian Should Expect Trials
As Christians, we need to learn to expect and even to embrace trials, instead of shrinking from them. God allows this refining in our lives, in order that slowly we become more like him. I often have to remind myself that it is impossible to become a conqueror without something to conquer. And, as we choose to worship the Lord in the midst of our suffering, we find a deeper place of intimacy and sweetness with Christ: he understands and has borne on the cross every last aspect of our burdens.
Jesus told his disciples, shortly before he died, These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33) And in the book of 1 Peter we read, Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy. (1 Peter 4: 12-13)
It is easy to assume that it must be right to pray for the deliverance of those who are persecuted or suffering. But this is not always the case. We must be sensitive to the leading of the Holy Spirit. In the New Testament, those who suffered for their faith counted it a privilege. Rather than wanting prayer for deliverance from their hardship, they sought grace that they might stay standing through it.
In Revelation 2, Christ promises the persecuted church the crown of life if they continued to overcome. Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation for ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life. “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who overcomes shall not be hurt by the second death.” (Revelation 2:10-11)
Most of you, like me, probably live somewhere in the world in which we currently do not face suffering from outside of the church on account of our beliefs. Our trials take a different form. But it is good to remember – and to be inspired by – our brothers and sisters who face tribulation very similar to that experienced by the early church of the New Testament.
Home – Voice of Persecuted Christians documents the testimonies of many of today’s persecuted Christians around the world.
World Watch List – Open Doors UK & Ireland – Serving Persecuted Christians Worldwide lists more than 50 countries globally which actively persecute those of the Christian faith.
What Does It Mean for a Christian to Overcome a Trial?
Christ’s call daily to take up our cross may entail choices to keep rejoicing and seeking him in the face of severe physical or emotional pain – instead of letting our hearts harden in bitterness, despair, fear or doubt.
Every one of us will at some point go through these seasons of fiery trials, with visceral loss or anguish.
But for most of us, our greatest ongoing wrestle is simply against the power of sin in our lives. Our calling as overcomers means that we are always engaged in a level of spiritual battle: we overcome as we keep dying to the flesh. Constantly, in thought, word and deed, the call of the believer is to resist sin and the temptation to indulge in old worldly choices which rob from intimacy with our Lord.
For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armour of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. (Ephesians 6:12-13)
It is important to remember that we cannot win this battle through our own strength.
We depend upon God’s grace to give us the supernatural strength to overcome. None of us can prevail in our own strength alone, and it is futile striving to try.
Personally, I have also found it comforting to remember, when wrestling with repetitive sin that I imagine others may find difficult to understand, that God is infinitely patient and kind.
He is perfectly just in His hatred of sin, but He also loves us with a relentless compassion. His love redeems past failures and understands their cause. And it is because of this love that he will not rest until we are freed from the enemy’s bonds in which our rebellion has held us.
What Happens When We Fall and Fail to Overcome?
The apostle Paul struggled with ongoing sin, as we all do, and wrote to the Philippians, Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 3:12-14)
We too must learn to put failures behind us.
Self-condemnation can bring paralysis and distance from the Lord in prayer. There are consequences when we sin, but when we place the situation into God’s hands and cry out for forgiveness, He cleanses us and leads us along the path of redemption.
Who shall bring a charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? (Romans 8:33-35)
God’s redemption is beautiful.
The Lord not only restores us in our place of intimacy with Him, but He can also bring new good from our failures, both within our hearts and in the lives of those affected by them. Through our mistakes, we learn humility and our desperate need for His grace.
An Eternal Perspective Helps Us Endure
Perhaps one of the most important things we can do in our darkest places is to keep our eyes fixed on heaven and our final inheritance.
Only beyond this world will many of our greatest trials finally make sense.
Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal. (2 Corinthians 4:16-18)
An eternal perspective does not make present suffering insignificant. It gives us hope within it.
The Song of the Overcomer
My hope is that The Song of the Overcomer will offer you, through its story of agonising losses and glorious victories, both comfort and inspiration in your own walk as a conqueror in the Christian faith.
At the heart of the book are questions many believers will recognise: What does faithfulness look like when following the right path becomes difficult? Where do we find strength when our own strength fails? What does it really mean to overcome?
How Does God See You as an Overcomer?
Perhaps you can take some time now to ask the Lord for a word or image of how He sees you as an overcomer.
You might be surprised by the significance God attaches to even the smallest or most hidden difficult choices you have made. Choices to seek His will rather than the broader path of the world’s comforts, rewards and approval.
Overcoming is not simply about achieving an impressive victory. Often, it is found in the quiet decision to remain faithful.
