Have you ever felt like your life is like living in a boxing ring? After a couple of rounds, you quickly figure out that you are in over your head and outmaneuvered. You are going against a crafty foe, Satan. No matter how old you are, you are a newbie. Your opponent has had thousands of years of practice and has practiced on countless victims. There are two types of boxing matches: amateur and professional. You think you are in an amateur match, but your enemy is a professional. He has honed his craft and knows what to use on the unfortunate victim that just, sometimes unknowingly, entered the ring. Some boxing matches are quickly over; some go round after round. I can not see my enemy. However, I feel the effects of all those punches he and his evil dominion throw my way. It is important to remember that we are not facing these challenges alone. God is with us during every trial, attack, and obstacle that we face. I frequently call upon warrior angels to encamp around me for protection and fight this unseen enemy for me.
Struggles and trials come at us from all directions. At first, it may just be a few soft jabs. The opposition is just getting warmed up. Over time it goes from a few jabs to left or right hooks and a few uppercuts. Before you know it, you are in a full-frontal assault. You are broken, bruised, and worn out. Ephesians 6:12 tells us that our struggle is not against flesh and blood but the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. You hobble back to your corner to rest and revive. While you are in your corner, you have time with your trainer. Friends and family may try to help as you try to make sense of what is going on. They can offer encouragement and prayer. However, your biggest supporter is the Holy Spirit. He encourages, comforts, and draws us to our Heavenly Father. There is so much wisdom in spending as much time as possible in Bible reading and prayer. It is essential to spend time with God but especially during times of assault. Romans 8:37 says, “No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.” There is hope and victory. As 1 Corinthians states, “But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ”.
I recently found myself in this situation. There had been so much going on within my family. Just when I thought I was going to get a breather, something else came up. A little while before this assault started, I felt like God told me to put on His full armor every day. I was heading into battle. I started doing this, having no idea of the battle that was about to be waged against my family and me. One of Satan’s main goals is to get us to walk away from our faith or give up on God. When the enemy could not get his desired outcome against me personally, he went after my family to get to me. An intense internal battle, as well as stress within my family, ensued. Praise God that He is faithful and gives me strength every day. I have learned the value of pressing into God by prayer and reading His Word. The only way I am still standing is because I finally learned not to fight my enemy in my strength. Thankfully, after some time, my family and I came through this trial more solid and closer. Victory through Christ!
All of us face battles. It is best to start the day by praying and asking God for His protection, power, authority, and strength as we go about the business of living. I highly recommend putting on the full armor of God (Ephesians 6). Claim God’s promises that He is always with us will never leave us or forsake us; He is our Good Shepherd and our protector. We cannot fight in our strength. However, in God’s strength and power, we can be victorious. Psalm 46:1 “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” God is on my side, and He already defeated my enemy at the cross by raising His perfect Son from the dead. Even on days when the enemy catches me by surprise, and I lose ground, the war is not lost. I cannot give up in the time of setback and give over anything to an enemy who wants to destroy me. I take the opportunity to reconnect to my source of strength, pray and press into God. Get up and shake off the ugly voice of the enemy. I don’t have to wallow in defeat but know that I can go out in victory and start again. Through the power of my risen Savior, I can live to fight another day.
None of this is easy. There have been many days that I just wanted to give up, pull the covers over my head, and try to ignore what was happening around me. I was so tired of fighting, worn out to the point of despair. Fear and anxiety were my companions all day long. It is so important to have the Word of God hidden in our hearts. Through God’s presence, we have the strength to get up and live victoriously. Meditate on Psalm 73:26 “My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.”
The attack I faced had been some of the most challenging days I had ever had. If I had known what was coming at me, I would have tried to hide. Put your trust in God and rely on Him, not yourself, and you will see Him defend, strengthen, encourage, sustain and help you. When you find yourself in a boxing ring with your enemy, go back to your corner and let your defender finish the fight for you. He is a very present help in trouble.
Peace in the Desert 