How to Stand Brave When the Battle Threatens

Sometimes life throws us a battle or a fork-in-the-road. The kind that comes unexpectedly banging and clanging into our life with such intensity, we find ourselves losing balance and perspective. The kind that threatens to throw our mind and heart into a tailspin and gives us no choice but to follow.

And sometimes it’s the kind that echoes muffled questions in the back of our mind. Questions that make us doubt our value and our purpose…and our future.

At a time when we need to be thinking and planning for so many other important things, we find ourselves caught up in a battle we would have never chosen for ourselves. Because we don’t like to be bothered by forks in the road. We don’t like to be burdened with battles.

And really, who does? But still, they come.

Forks in the road show up on a whim, regardless of agendas and time frames, and their presence can’t be ignored.

And the threat of many to steal peace and joy is real and palpable. Because the outcome is uncertain.

With every pulse of uncertainty comes the nagging thought of a future that may not be ours. Of the children left without the one who has given her life continually for the sake of all their tomorrows. Of the spouse left without the one who prayed for endless tomorrows. Of the soul holes so deep, time alone won’t heal.

These are the forks that bombard our soul with doubts of whether we really are loved and priceless and treasured. Whether God’s numbering of our days is on the generous side, or will we find ourselves holding the short end of the stick.

These are the forks that puncture and compromise all we profess to believe about a God who shows mercy and doesn’t keep a running tab of our poor choices and dark thoughts and regrets that keep us awake at night.

The questioning seeps into our pores of how much grace is there really left for us. And is it enough to carry US through when we’ve seen so many live out that awe-inspiring grace in the midst of their fork.

Still, we want something different. We want the easier road, the road well-traveled. Because we can’t fathom a God big enough to use our fork in the road for any kind of good. If we’re honest, we really don’t want that kind of good.

And in this moment of doubting and questioning and reasoning away this kind of pain as being good, God is whispering into our frazzled and worn heart:

“Every fork and battle is a summoning to stand brave in the armor He’s draped over our earthly bodies since the beginning of time.”

Armor that becomes more resilient and impenetrable with the sweat and challenge of every battle.

He’s asking us to remember that we’ve been gifted this armor for such a time as this. He’s charging us to move forward in the strength and power of truth because this isn’t just a scrimmage with the enemy, it’s a full-fledged battle toward eternity.

He’s rallying us to leave behind the questions of whether his mercy and grace are really over us, and stand strong in the breastplate of His righteousness. A righteousness that thunders over the lies and deception pummeling our minds with doubt.

He’s petitioning us to move confidently in the way of faith, not fear. Faith conquers fear in any form and from every direction. Share on X

He’s challenging us to surround our heart and mind with hope, to believe the plans He has for us extend further than any tomorrow. Because He knows this hope will be enough to carry us wherever He needs us to go and through whatever battle we are called to fight.

And with the draping of each piece of armor, He promises to lighten the load and travel with us to the other side of the battle. To the place of realizing every earthly battle can help us see another side…

Another side of good~