Walking in Faith Even When Others Don’t Uplift You

We all know the drill when it comes to dealing with people—in the workplace, at home, or out in public. It’s a mixed bag of emotions: moments of joy and peace, cooperation, teamwork, alternating with strife, rejection, competitiveness, slander, jealousy, and more. Yet somehow, we manage to get through the day without pinning someone by the neck against the wall. Haha. Don’t you think there’s a God holding the reins against evil? He keeps things tidy, and we get glimpses of grace throughout our mostly messy human existence.

Story-time: Preparing for the Contest

Recently, I had an English speech contest for the kids I teach. I had coached them for a limited time over the summer break. Their teachers had done most of the heavy lifting: choosing, drafting, and editing their speeches to align with the objectives of the contest and the students’ abilities. My role was to prepare them for delivery—focusing on grammar, pronunciation, gestures, tone, pacing, and, most importantly, helping them find their voice.

As a writer myself, I understand the struggle of finding your real voice. Consistently reflecting, reading, and writing—even imperfectly—gradually helps you recognize it. I knew I wasn’t just helping the kids understand the technicalities of delivering a speech; I needed them to capture the attention of the judges and audience, embody moral conviction, and channel their unique expression with natural emotion and authority.

Finding Strengths, Building Confidence

I had six kids, each with different personalities and abilities. One had excellent command of English but was very monotone. Another had lived abroad, had a serious personality, and leaned heavily on perfection and competitiveness. A third had limited English skills but a commanding voice and confidence that could shine with the right guidance. The other three were determined but timid, with scripts that didn’t match their strengths.

I had to collaborate with multiple teachers including one young teacher still fresh from campus, who had a tight grip on one of the technical scripts of one of the timid students. The first time I suggested a minor change, she ended up revamping the whole script and still left it rigid. Sensing resistance, I stepped back and let her handle it her way.

Instead, I doubled down on each child’s strengths:

• For the monotone girl, I advised where to stress words and how to end on a high note.
• For the serious boy, I highlighted parts of his script that showed joy, telling him to let it shine without losing his natural demeanor.
• For the easy-going boy, I helped him maximize gestures and stage presence, ending with moral conviction.

The results were incredible. The monotone girl captured the audience, the serious boy delivered with intentional presence, and the easy-going boy commanded the stage so fully that time ran out before he reached the climax. In the end, the monotone girl won first place in her division, the easy-going boy got second place, and the serious boy performed well, though no award was given in his division due to competition rules.

Joy Amidst Competition

The joy from students, teachers, and parents was palpable. I restrained myself from making it about me, celebrating the kids’ achievements from the back pews with subtle smiles towards them.

I’m African, and my colleagues are mostly Western or Asian, with only two other Africans. In the auditorium, we sat together in the back, while the Japanese teachers, students, and parents sat in lower pews. Amongst my peers, there was obvious competition for which students would win. One Asian teacher had a winning student, and two peers recognized my contribution—but all the others fell into silence. Even my fellow African colleague chose to ignore it. But they celebrated the Asian teacher.

Recognizing the Real Enemy

Woe unto you if you wait upon the applause of men! Some might brush it off as “that’s just how it goes,” but why did my fellow African peers avoid recognition? They share my background, understand our challenges, yet they didn’t uplift one of their own.

It was then I was reminded of God’s Word:

“For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.”

The enemy infiltrates hearts. By their fruits, you will know them: jealousy, strife, gossip, and lies manifest through people. The heart is deceitful, yet songs and media often glorify following its whims—a lie from the pits of hell made palatable through captivating sound.

Walking in Faith, Not Bitterness

The next time you face sabotage or strange behavior, remember: your enemy is not the person, but the darkness they have welcomed through disobedience and worldly conformity.

People’s actions dishearten me many times. I have carried dark clouds of betrayal. But when I understood who the real enemy was, I remembered God’s commands: come to Him with prayer and thanksgiving, have faith, praise Him in trials, turn the other cheek, pray for enemies, and do good to them. Power over evil comes not by conforming to the world, but by walking in faith like Christ.

Knowing I had lifted my students in prayer before the contest, I trusted my victory was recorded in heaven—and that was enough.

God’s Protection and Peace

When trouble arises around you, remember the enemy roams like a lion seeking whom to devour. His goal is to steal, kill, and destroy. But when we walk in alignment with God, He places a hedge of protection around us, just as He did with Job. The blood of Jesus intercedes for us, and even demons tremble at the mention of His name.

I used to engage with anger or bitterness, reacting when provoked, only to open myself up to attack and feed the enemy’s agenda. But now, I see that standing in faith, restrained by God, brings peace even when chaos or rejection surrounds us.

Shalom Aleichem: Full Peace and Restoration

The gates of hell will not prevail against us. God gives peace, joy, abundance, grace, and rest beyond human understanding, even amid trials. He bridle our tongues, restrains our desire for applause, and keeps us still when others lash out.

This is the gift of the saints of the Lord. Shalom Aleichem. It means more than peace or absence of conflict—it means completeness, safety, well-being, and harmony with God and others. Just as Jesus blessed His disciples with full restoration, may it be for you:

May peace be with you.