This Battle Called Life

(Scripture references from NIV)

There have been so many times in my life – and I am certain that I am not alone with this – that I have faced “challenges”.  Some have been small and some have been much larger. It can be so simple to find myself fretting and worrying over these “challenges”.  The next thing I know, I will be doing my best to try and fix it myself. Eventually I might remember that I should be praying about it and releasing it to God.  Then when it does not go the way I think it should, or seems to be happening too slowly, I pull it back to myself and start trying to help God out – because He surely needs me to do that, right?

Yes, there may be times that God will want to use us and our abilities to move things along.  But if we are not extremely careful, our preparations for the battle will begin to morph into stepping out ahead of our Commander and trying to battle our enemies without His protection.  That is always a dangerous place to be.

How soon we can forget that the Commander of the armies of angels is the all-powerful One, that He is capable of controlling the circumstances and defeating the enemy if we only stay out of His way.  What Private in the military would dare to step out in front of his company commander and try to start directing his platoon? That Private is inexperienced and cannot possibly have the wisdom needed to make the best decisions.  He cannot have the full picture of what the situation is and certainly has not been privy to the details of what all they are facing and what their battle plans are.  

In that same way, we do not know the details of everything surrounding our situation and we lack the enormous wisdom of our Commander.  So how could we ever expect to make all the right decisions in order to annihilate our enemy?

It is important that we keep in mind that in the battle of life we are just the enlisted Privates.  We need to tap down any fear, anxiety and uncertainty then look to our leader for guidance. We need to let our Commander lead us to victory.

Joshua 23:2, 5 & 9-11 says “’You yourselves have seen everything the Lord your God has done to all these nations for your sake; it was the Lord your God who fought for you.’”  “’The Lord your God Himself will drive them out of your way. He will push them out before you, and you will take possession of their land…’” “’The Lord has driven out before you great and powerful nations; to this day no one has been able to withstand you.  One of you routs a thousand, because the Lord your God fights for you, just as He promised.’”  

In this thing called life, we should always remember that the battles are not ours to fight – they belong to the Lord.  Several scripture passages emphasize that fact. In I Samuel 17:47b – “’…the battle is the Lord’s’”. In 2 Chronicles 20:15b & 17 – “’…Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army.  For the battle is not yours, but God’s.’” “’You will not have to fight this battle. Take up your positions; stand firm and see the deliverance the Lord will give you, O Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.  Go out to face them tomorrow, and the Lord will be with you.’” Then in 2 Chronicles 32:7-8b – “’Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or discouraged because of the king of Assyria and the vast army with him, for there is a greater power with us than with him.  With him is only the arm of flesh, but with us is the Lord our God to help us and to fight our battles.’” 

Victory is ours if we will only follow our Commander and then we will win in this battle called life.

Written by Karran Martin – February 2019