Embattled Heart

The enemy is after my heart today. I can feel the anxiety stirring, a menacing presence roiling just below the surface. There is no reason for it — no immediate fear or dread — just a silent stalking.

The seasons are changing. Darkness arrives earlier and earlier, swallowing up whole chunks of evening hours and magnifying the lies that seem so much easier to dismiss in the daylight.

You are alone. You are powerless. No one hears your voice or cares what you have to say. You are a failure. There is no hope for you.

The lies are a poisonous oil that seeps between the cracks in my armor. And so, when even the worship music playing in the background becomes like so much noise, I take up the weapon of my warfare …

… and I write.

I write in honor of the One who saved me. I write to lift up His name: the holy, beautiful name of Jesus, the One True God of all the earth.

I write to sing the praises of He who lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire (see Psalm 40:2).

I write to proclaim the victory of the One who called me out of darkness and into His wonderful Light! (see 1 Peter 2:9)

Grave, where is your victory? Death, where is your sting? Darkness and fear, you have no power now: no teeth, no claws, no power to ensnare.

On my own, I can do nothing; in Him, I have everything. My calling, my platform, my significance — all are hidden in the holy presence of Jesus, can be found and fulfilled only in Him.

Where are you hiding tonight, Daughter of His heart’s delight? What adversary stalks your soul? You have not been forgotten, overlooked or cast away. Those are lies you’ve been listening to, wretched falsehoods meant to cripple your walk, steal your strength, drain your desire for the One who holds your life in His hands.

Return to Jesus. Don’t resist, don’t shrink away from the hands that heal you: they may cause pain for the moment, but won’t leave you scarred. His shadow is your shelter, His embrace your one sure hope.

You have been given a gift, priceless beyond all measure. Your spirit is a treasure in the crown of the King, and the battle over you is fierce. Know that you have a Champion who fights to set you free. Your worth to Him is unspeakable, but He will not force your allegiance. He awaits your acquiescence, your humble submission to His will. Without it, you are vulnerable to the forces arrayed against you. Your Redeemer beckons, but your walls can still be breached. Yet once you surrender, once you lay your heart at His feet, He will move heaven and earth to come to your rescue. The Lord fights for you; you need only to be still (Exodus 14:14).

There is a battle going on at this very hour. So often, we are too busy to take notice, too distracted to recognize anything beyond the demands of the moment. But when we are still, when we let the silence settle around us, we can catch a glimpse of the world behind the veil, the war being waged for our souls.

Your choices matter. The words you speak, the thoughts that flow through your mind, the emotions that rage unchecked through your being, every action and reaction, every chance to hold bitterness or extend forgiveness.

Of what value is a single life? Infinite, measureless worth! Of such indescribable significance that all the powers of darkness seek to keep you bound and silent, to control your choices through ignorance, manipulation, and fear. You are not imagining the weight of the conflict you are bearing up under; is it any wonder the struggle is so fierce?

Have such grace for yourself, sweet sister, in your setbacks and pains — Jesus does! There is not a moment heaven’s host is not cheering you on, encouraging you to hold fast to His promises, stand firm in His love. They know — triumphant saints and angels alike — how savage the attacks of the enemy can be, how persuasive, how intimidating, how overwhelming they can seem.

But they also know this, and this is where our confidence rests:

In this world, you will have trouble, but take heart: I — JESUS — have overcome the world! (John 16:33)

When the battle is at its height and your strength is all but gone, anchor your hope in this Truth: Jesus has already won! Let His strength be your strength, His Life be your life, and remember. Gird yourself in His armor and take up the weapons of your warfare — the sword of the Spirit, the shield of faith, and whatever else He has uniquely gifted you with or bestowed upon you for this specific fight. Fight from a place of peace and assurance of your authority in Jesus Christ; let His righteousness clothe you, His salvation guard your mind. The war is raging around you, but in Him, you have everything you need. Put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand (Ephesians 6:13).

There is nothing like claiming and proclaiming Truth in the presence of the enemy! He trembles to see your faith grow, and his looming presence shrinks to its proper size. There is power in declaring the promises of God — for yourself, for your loved ones, for a lost and hurting world who desperately needs to hear but is often too afraid to listen. Keep speaking Truth, keep sharing in love. Keep walking in the Spirit, flowing in the presence of the One who enables you to do His will. Keep trusting in the God whose promises are steadfast, whose power is unmatched, whose love for you is perfect, unconditional, and unfailing.

There is such power in the perfect love of Jesus! May you know His love anew in this season of your heart; may you rest securely in His promises for you. Be blessed, sweet sister, and keep looking up!