Sweat. Blood.
Toil. Ambition. Noises surround and the battle around you
seems to cave in closer and closer at every angle you glace. Sweat spills from your brow. Everything seems to become a blur. However, you sharply and swiftly rotate your sword
around you, jabbing at the enemy. As you
do, your shield is gliding to protect you from the fiery darts that surround.
In
the heat of a battle it could be very easy to grow weary, but you are armed
from head to foot and you stand firm. You stand strong. And just when the enemy seems to be taking
over and suffocating you, you do not faint but are empowered, fighting harder,
holding onto what you know is yours.
Victory! Victory is yours! Just beyond the horizon you can see its
goodness. You can taste it. You can see that’s it’s near. Very Near!
Fight! Press on! Don’t let up!
The victory is yours!
This week I went for a run along the beach one afternoon when
we got back from doing ministry. As I
ran, the sun was beginning to go in hiding, fading into the clouds and
disappeared beneath the horizon. It was
gorgeous. When I had finished my run, I
decided to take off my shoes and walk along the beach with my feet in the
water. By now the sun was long gone and
only a faint light shimmered in the distance.
And of course there were the illuminations from all the shops and
restaurants along the beach behind me.
But as I stood in the water, the noises and lights around me began to
fade and my focus was directed towards God.
I only heard the lapping of waves along the shore and the sensation of
water as it glided over my feet.
Now, as I stared across the sea, my attention was drawn to a
one lonely palm tree that hangs over the hill sticking out in the water. I gazed at its silhouette beauty. Then the Lord spoke to me. (Not audibly but
in my heart) Sometimes I feel like that
lonely palm tree standing alone.
Standing alone in a battle that surrounds me. A battle I feel that only I can fight. A battle where I feel the enemy seems to be
caving and closing closer and closer in on me.
A battle where I have gone weary, wanting to surrender. A battle where I could not see the victory
yet. A battle where the end seems so
distant. A battle where I have questioned
God for who He is, but knowing he is still God.
Sometimes I feel that I am fighting in a battle where I’m bipolar. One moment I completely trust and I got a
hold of the victory. I can see it! And the next, I’m in a rut! Not budging and stuck in a ditch. And sometimes I feel like that lonely palm
tree.
But as I stared, I
was reminded that just like the palm tree on the side of the hill, it seems so
alone from where I’m standing, but on the other side there are a whole bunch of
palm trees. (I have seen this hill from
the other side) And then I thought, just
like in a battle or dealing with something, you may not see the answer yet. You
may not see the manifestation yet. But
you know it’s there. It’s just on the
other side of the hump. It’s just on the
horizon. I know the Word of God and His
promises are yes and amen. What He says
I can have, I have. What He says is
mine, is mine.
In the heat of your battle don’t give up. Continue to sharpen your sword and know the
Word of God. Hold onto your shield of
faith in the heat of the battle. Don’t
grow weary. Hold onto the promises of
God. Press on! You may feel alone, but press into the
Lord. Just on the other side of the
hump, there is victory!
Victory! Victory is yours! Just beyond the horizon you can see its
goodness. You can taste it. You can see that’s it’s near. Very Near!
Fight! Press on! Don’t let up!
The victory is yours!
Ephesians 6:13-14
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.
Hebrews 11:1
Now faith is being sure of what you hope for and certain of
what you cannot see.
