The Enemy is us
In a regular printing of the "Pogo" comic strip probably over 20 years ago, the comic strip ended the last frame with "We have met the enemy and he is us!"
I have never forgotten that statement and have found through the years that it holds true with any endeavor we decide to take on.
If we tackle personal tasks we find we are often hindered by our own inability to believe in the abilities God has given us to succeed. Fear of failure, fear of what others might think, etc. are internalizations of an inability to grasp the true internal attributes given us by a gracious God who gives everyone gifts and abilities to perform acts in this world that often are barely short of miraculous.
This does not mean we will succeed at everything we do. What it means is we should not make excuses for never finding out what we could achieve if we boldly step out knowing that anything is possible if we have faith.
This applies to our God directed spiritual mission on the earth. Nobody in the church is called to sit. Everyone has a task to perform. The Bible teaches very clearly in Corinthians that we are a 'body' of believers working toward the same goal. It further teaches that nobody lacks value nor is anyone so great they are the whole body.
Any failure of the body to accomplish its goal, regardless of the goal, can be attributed to believers not understanding that they belong to God their creator and God doesn't make any junk. The Apostle Paul teaches us in the book of Romans (8:38-39) nothing exists on earth or in heaven that is capable of separating us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
I have often wished Paul would have added, "except us". But as you can read, Paul is concentrating on outside influence, not internal.
What he said is true. Nothing outside of us can keep us from God or the experience of being his child. Only the internal workings, lack of faith, fear of the 'whatever' can do that and when all is said and done, the same statement truly applies, "We have met the enemy and he is us".
