The Battlefield

Its a battlefield out there, and we're on the front lines. For most of us, not literally...bullets whizzing by, ieds hidden, waiting for the slightest touch. No, the battlefield I'm talking about is the one in our own backyards. The one that Christians find themselves in every day.

Its not enough that we are lambasted and bombarded by those who believe we are archaic in our thinking. Too narrow to believe that anyone should live their lives as they desire. So bent on following an "ancient book of rules, written by women haters and violent men," that we can't see that the world has evolved, but the unseen, the demons, are rubbing their gnarled hands in great delight. When we give in to the mindset of the world, its another victory for evil to advance. When we turn our eyes away from something that we know is wrong, without stepping up or at least addressing it, maniacal laughter erupts from those who are ready to disrupt or destroy our testimony.

That's a pretty rough battlefield, you say. Yeah, but there's another battlefield that we wander in, that's as dangerous or if possible, more so. The thing is, its not really considered a battlefield in some cases...its what we call our day to day lives.

Too often we keep to ourselves and don't allow others to know our hurt...our shame...our guilt. I am horribly guilty of that and working on it, with Jesus' help. But I'm sorely behind and am struggling to break out, so to speak. There are those, however, who don't ask for anything for themselves, but will ask for others. They believe they are working through the issues with God's help, and in a sense, they are. But God didn't put fellow Believers in your life to sit by in Church, to stand by while serving the homeless or to stand with during worship. Each one of those people have a story. They've had trials, troubles...they've had experiences that, while they might be unique to them, have a purpose. That purpose might be you.

There are people who have gone through tumultuous times in their marriages, some even to the point of divorce. There are those who have been through abusive relationships and have come out victorious, and some who have not. Those who have lost a parent, a sibling, a grandparent or worse, a child. When they believed that they couldn't go another step, by God's grace, they did. Some may, after many years, still be grieving, and some may have an empty place in their hearts, but God has used the time that has passed to heal them. There are those who have been wronged, who have done wrong...some who have been addicts or have a loved one who is an addict. A brother, sister, parent or other loved one has removed themselves from a family's life...a parent has abandoned their family...a child is born with special needs...so many instances where a Brother or Sister in Christ has had an experience and has, by God's grace, moved forward. Not forgetting what they have experienced, by no means, but has retained the memory if for nothing else but to help someone who may need them in the future. But the help cannot come unless it is voiced. I'm not advocating that you broadcast on social media every issue you have, but instead, take it to God in prayer, whether in your prayer closet or with a prayer partner, and God will hear your prayers, but don't be shocked when the answer is "no," or "wait."

God did not build the Family around you for you to sit off to yourself, never showing vulnerability. He gave you His Family so that you would have someone to share your burdens, your fears, your hurts, and yes your victories, your praises and your joys.

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