Have you ever felt like you are doing all you can to endure barbs, and yet they just keep on coming?
Maybe the barbs are all different, or maybe they are all in the same vein, but are they just WEARING YOU OUT?
Well, I have. I am. And I am not enjoying it.
This morning I was in Thessalonians and something really struck me, that was most definitely NOT a barb. It was some good stuff, some protection against barbs.
Let’s SOAP it on out…Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 5:8-9
But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet. For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Observation:
I felt God telling me this:
Amy, hold up, girl. This is the day (or chapter or whatever) you are in, but you are NOT alone. There is a bigger picture and I have given you ammunition. Take it. Use it. Protect yourself with MY PROMISES. I’m here. You aren’t here to suffer and get frustrated, I will see you through all of this on on to the much bigger and better stuff.
SO.
At first I saw the whole salvation part and then felt guilty for wallowing in my worldly irritation. Salvation is, after all a REALLY big deal.
But then I thought about it some more.
The words weren’t “Get over it. Move on. Your struggles are no big deal in the scheme of things.”
Nope.
They said
“I know you are facing struggles, and I’ve got a solution. Arm yourself! Take the tools I know will help you. Arm yourself and stay strong. Faith, love and hope can protect you if you just USE them.”
I thought about that a bit, journaled a bit more, found a few other verses calling out to me and closed my Bible and journal to go wake up our kids for school.
And then more barbs came.
Application:
We don’t need to go into detail here, but some barbs were flying this morning, and they were headed right for me and my family. I faced some challenges with one of my kids. And he didn’t mean to be challenging, but his situation was.
As I tried to figure out how to best handle the situation, I thought about the armor I could put on. I called on that faith and love and hope. I listened and stayed as calm as I could and made my way through it.
Did magic happen?
Nope.
Did I keep my cool? Yep. Are we going to make it through it? Yep.
Grace, love and hope happened. Teamwork with my husband happened.
I belong to this day. This is where I am. God knew I would be her. And he gave me all I need to make it through. I can use His tools, or I can let Satan get my emotions flaring and forget about the good armor.
I choose to armor up. I hope I remember that other times as well.
Prayer:
Father God,
You are awesome. You DO know what I need and you offer it to me freely.
Please, Lord, help me to accept and use the gifts and tools you offer to live as YOU intend for me to live.
Help me to secure that breastplate of faith and love. Help me to secure that helmet of hope in salvation. Those are mighty tools, when used well.
Guide me in turning to those tools that you have already provided. Show me how to access them instead of anger and fear.
I love you, God. I trust you.
Thank you.
Amen.
More thoughts:
Friends, I know I am being pretty vague here, and I hope you’ll let me get away with that.
The point is that He does empower and embolden us for big and small things. He never promised things would be easy. But He is equipping us.
If you are struggling with anything that seems insurmountable, I hope you’ll turn to Him. And I hope you’ll find a nugget of truth to guide you.
This life stuff can be really hard. But we CAN do it, and see blessings, when we turn to him.
I pray that you see Him hourly and more.
Love in Him,
Amy
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