by Claire Ryan
The battle is the Lord’s.
This line plays over and over in my head, like a song on repeat. It gives me the extra push I need to make it through the day. It calms my wandering heart whenever I am confused. It soothes my restless spirit in the midst of fear. With an assertive breath, I can breathe in His power and His confidence; for my strength alone is weakness.
The idea of a battle is intriguing to me. I pride myself keeping up to date on all the action movies, books, or television shows. It’s not good unless someone is thrown into a perilous, life or death situation or bleeding. If someone isn’t getting head-butted or roundhouse kicked, you can count me out.
My imagination is fairly extensive, so it doesn’t take much for me to imagine myself as an elfin warrior, leading my troops into battle. Or a Jedi in training, seeking advice from Master Yoda. I’m the fiercest soldier and the bravest trainee. There isn’t a fight I face that can’t be overcome with the heart of a champion.
However, not all conflicts look the same. Sometimes, real life battles are a whole different fight altogether. And when they stand in my face, challenging my bravery, I often cower back in reluctance and fear, frantically searching for someone else to see my desperation and come to my aid.
Throughout the day, I think often of the Lord and His mysterious ways. I don’t understand how He works, or why He chooses to work the way He does; but I don’t have to know. If my finite mind could comprehend the infinite God, then He would cease to be so infinite. At school, there are times I am paralyzed with anxiety. On the outside, I appear calm, collected. But on the inside, I am battling fear, worry, stress, confusion, and loneliness. I am going toe to toe with the devil and his crafty words; the way he bends them to make me believe a certain way is terrifying. He knows my weakest points, using them to his advantage and my downfall.
My mind flashes back to a conversation I had with Pawpaw one morning, during our daily coffee talks. We had discussed my family and how they were all doing. Pawpaw had spread before me a blanket of wisdom that I would later share with my sisters. I begin packing up to leave, sliding my backpack around my shoulders, grabbing my coffee cup with one hand, and slipping my phone in my back pocket with the other.
I am on the verge of turning to face Pawpaw, planning to give him a hug and a light kiss on the cheek when…
“Here’s your sword.” He states simply.
Time seems to stand still, the already quiet house becoming suddenly quieter, as if the air itself had ceased moving. I turn slowly, a sudden peace filling my agitated mind.
Pawpaw’s arm is outstretched towards me, his hand firmly grasping my Bible. I wasn’t going to forget it; it goes with me every day. But Pawpaw’s matter-of-fact statement gave me such assurance in that moment. It brought me back to what was truly important in this life.
I smile up at him. Then, without a word, I take my sword.
Ephesians 6:13-17: “Therefore, take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness,and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.”
There’s no telling what we may face in “the evil day.” A body weak from sickness, a blinding headache, hidden secrets, frustrating co-workers, strict time crunches, a lost loved one, a hurting child, disturbing news, terrible bosses, negativity, or a fearful countenance. It is easy for these moments to become overwhelming, to become too much for us to bare. That’s why it’s so important to wake up each morning and take up the whole armor of God. We fasten our Truth belt, slide on the Righteous breastplate, shod our feet with the Gospel of Peace, firmly grasp our shield of Faith, protect our minds with the Salvation helmet, and boldly wield the Spirit’s sword; that we may be able to withstand that evil day.
For the battle is the Lord’s.
Claire lives in Hendersonville, Tennessee. She is in her third-year teaching and currently teaches 7th grade English. She is the assistant women’s basketball coach at Welch College. Her hobbies include reading, writing, athletics, and time spent with family and friends. Coffee is her go-to and donuts are one of the major food groups. And, as always, ROLL TIDE!
Shine! 