To Stand

I’m discouraged and weary. Bordering on depression. Honestly, our second year in Colorado so far has been worse than the first, at least for me. I struggle with wondering why are we here?

As I try to work through these thoughts it occurs to me that no matter where we are or what our circumstances there will be conflict and struggle. Honestly, I’m tired of the “fight”… tired of trying to make sense of why things happen the way they do… and why things don’t work out the way I think they should.

Then I remembered the verses about “we wrestle not against flesh and blood” and about putting on the “armor of God.” Snippets of those verses I learned as a child came back to me:

…the helmet of salvation… Salvation? Got that!
…the breastplate of righteousness… Righteousness? By the grace of God, got that!
…the belt of truth… Truth? Got that!
…shod with the preparation of peace… There is still peace in the midst of discouragement. Got that!
…the sword of the Spirit which is the word of God… The Bible? Got that!
… and having done all else, to stand… Stand? Ugh. That’s the hard part!

I looked up the verses to see how well I remembered them:

Finally, my brethren,
be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.
Put on the whole armor of God,
that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood,
but against principalities,
against powers,
against the rulers of the darkness of this age,
against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.
Therefore take up the whole armor of God,
that you may be able to withstand in the evil day,
and having done all,
to stand.
Stand therefore,
having girded your waist with truth,
having put on the breastplate of righteousness,
and having shod your feet
with the preparation of the gospel of peace;
above all, taking the shield of faith
with which you will be able to quench
all the fiery darts of the wicked one.
And take the helmet of salvation,
and the sword of the Spirit,
which is the word of God;
praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit,
being watchful to this end
with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints—
Ephesians 6:10-18, NKJV

I got some of them out of order, and I forgot about the shield of faith, which is “above all” … yeah, I’m thinking I need to work on that, too.

And standing.

No temptation has overtaken you
except such as is common to man;
but God is faithful,
who will not allow you to be tempted
beyond what you are able,
but with the temptation
will also make the way of escape,
that you may be able to bear it.
I Corinthians 10:13, NKJV

Oh, yeah. And watching for that way of escape.

{Linking up with Coffee and Conversation, Grace and Truth, Women with Intention.}