When The Battle Feels Hard

My daughter, Abi, wrote this a few years back. This truth is a powerful, keep-you-going reminder—

I felt alone.

Sad, disheartened, fighting back tears-very much like an alien and stranger though surrounded by others my age as I sat in my Contemporary Moral Issues Philosophy class, at the University of Tennessee, listening to my classmates discuss why porn isn’t morally wrong and why it doesn’t limit the autonomy of anyone-their voices loud.

I felt sick.

As I drove home, with tears pooling in my eyes, I questioned God, “Where are
you?”

And my sweet Savior, in a still small voice, in my spirit, answered so clearly, “I’m in you.”

This verse then came to mind,

“Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in
you is greater than he who is in the world”. (1 John 4:4).

All of this happened while “Hosanna” was playing on my Spotify. Just look at these lyrics…

“Show me how to love
Like You have loved me
Break my heart for what breaks Yours
Everything I am
For your Kingdom’s cause.”

I had taken my eyes off the Lord. I had chosen to look at all the darkness instead of the good. (Anybody else tempted to do that right now?)

Yet, God so kindly reminded me that He is ever-present.

God had also allowed me a glimpse of the very real battle going on around us.

All of us are in a battle.

And battles absolutely stink. BUT God, has already won!

However, until He calls us Home, or until He returns, we will fight, day after day after day.

And to effectively fight a battle, we better have on our armor!

Just the other day, I was at the hospital visiting a very ill, very godly woman who, years ago, took the time to teach me the Armor of God, and through tears I prayed that Armor over her. (Just a few days previous God had allowed me to realize that the armor doesn’t take away the fight. No, the armor prepares you and protects you IN the fight.)

So, I want to pray that Armor over you, who read this , because, like me, many are in a battle.

Lord, I pray for whoever may be reading this…

I pray for the Helmet of Salvation, which protects their mind in Christ Jesus.

I pray for the Breastplate of Righteousness, which does not allow the enemy to get a foothold.

I pray for the Belt of Truth, because God it is with YOUR TRUTH that we can walk freely through the day.

I pray for the Shoes Shod with The Gospel of Peace because it is with Your peace that we can make it through the day.

I pray the Sword of the Spirit, which is your Word God, that allows us to
break the chains of the evil one.

I pray the Shield of Faith because it is with faith that we can extinguish the fiery darts of the enemy.

And prayer, prayer is our constant life line to You.

Lastly, God I just pray for joy because the joy of the Lord is our strength.

I challenge myself and I challenge you…what if instead of looking at the darkness and keeping the light to ourselves, we give it away?

What if we choose to love others as Christ has loved us?

And what if, instead of giving up when the battle is hard, we choose to put on our Armor, rely on God, and fight by speaking truth in love?

I challenge you and I challenge myself to keep on fighting the Good Fight.

People around us are being held in bondage by the enemy’s schemes.

They are not our enemies.

The devil is waging war and fighting for the souls of those around us. Let’s fight to show them the Victor, who has set us free and can set them free.

Let’s put on our Armor, sweet friend, and walk confidently into the battle that God has already won!

—Abi

I’m forever grateful to my mentor and friend, Karen Alexander Doyel, who taught Abi this prayer. She’s at the throne, no longer in this battle, but what a legacy she left while here with us. I still miss her so much.

kimjaggers.com