We live in a broken, fallen world. Painful things happen to all of us that we can’t control. No one can control disaster. No can control disease. No one can stop death. No one can avoid disappointment and discouragement. These things and a host of other broken-world problems will attack you from the day you are born until the day you die. In a world of things you cannot control, here is what you can control.
You can control how you respond to pain.
You and you alone can decide how to respond to the news that you have cancer. You and you alone can choose how to respond to the loss of a loved one. You and you alone make the call on how to deal with a job loss. You and you alone decide how to handle rejection from a friend.
Understand this. The attack is coming: it is ruthless and relentless. It never stops. Each and every day, the attack comes in different ways. We have to stop waiting for the storms to pass. We know and expect to go through trials in life. Once you accept the reality of pain, you can begin the journey of walking through it.
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Part of walking through the journey is learning to put on the armor of God and stand strong against the darts of the evil one. Begin learning to respond by choosing to take up the helmet of salvation, the breastplate of righteousness, the belt of truth, the shield of faith, the shoes of the gospel, and the sword of the Spirit. This armor will protect you on your journey into battle.
I hope you can see that our real battle is not on the outside, but on the inside. Salvation, righteousness, truth, faith, and the Spirit are not weapons for fighting disease, disaster, or disappointment. They are weapons for fighting the spiritual battle that is raging on the inside of all people.
So I say, suit up!
Put on the armor of God every day and prepare to do battle. There is a war going on, and we will experience it. We can’t necessarily stop our problems and pain, but we can respond to those things in a way that honors God.
By Ken Adams
Impact Discipleship Ministries exists to help you be and build disciples of Christ. As disciples of Christ, we will not crumble when we feel the pressure of this world. Jesus will be our strength. If Impact can help you grow as a disciple or help your church make disciples, please contact us at impactdisciples.com.