Life changes. We either fight, adapt, or crumble.
In the past few weeks, I have had the opportunity to witness others in the midst of life changing decisions, and what I have found amazes me.
Most people, placed under immediate pressure, do not crumble. They fight back. Whether it be to bravely undergo lifesaving treatment, make radical diet changes in the face of a new diagnosis, or to physically move in order to maintain and seek a sense of self.
They have a will to survive. And thrive.
And with time, we adapt to our new changes. We learn to live with them and start anew. What was once a challenge becomes habit. What was once scary becomes exciting. Maybe even comforting.
But some do not thrive under change. They don't adapt under the long-term changes that are needed for healing, for wholeness, for a new sense of self. They may even live in fear or plagued with anxiety of what might happen.
Sometimes we fail with long-term change. We don't do what we intended. We do what we meant to give up.
Fortunately, we can't out-fail God. His mercies are new every morning! But we must turn. Turn our eyes to the One who can help!
God thoroughly equips us to fight these battles against the devil. Oh yes, I said the devil. Be assured, friend, we are at war! Not with each other, but with the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.
So how do we fight these battles and WIN? Paul tells us in Ephesians 6, to put on the full armor of God and stand our ground. Standing firm.
"Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all of this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take up the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests." Eph 6:14-18a (emphasis mine)
Be strong in the Lord. Don't fear. Pray without ceasing. Know that you are not alone.
When we are weak, HE is strong!!
The song "The Words I Would Say" has been ringing through my head the entire time I was writing this blog. I hope that you will find Truth and strength in it as well:
