shield of faith

Lately God has really been dealing with me about faith. Scripture teaches that without faith it is impossible—impossible—to please God (Hebrews 11:6). Clearly it’s a big deal. Obviously God wants us to put our hope, trust and reliance upon His unseen and yet vastly superior resources. This church planting process has challenged, bent, stretched and nearly broken my faith. I have come to a dependence on God that I never knew existed or came close to understanding before. The spiritual warfare my family encounters on a daily basis is overwhelming. There is so little that I can do and so much that He can do. I must believe that to survive.

This past week a friend of mine reminded me of Paul’s word in Ephesians 6. He says that our faith is a shield. It’s a source of protection from and defense against “the devil’s schemes.” See, it’s crucial to understand that we’re not fighting each other—other humans—but a spiritual force of evil. Individual humans are not free from their own sin and guilt, to be sure, but they are being controlled and manipulated by an evil one—the devil himself. And, in that furious battle, our faith is a shield.

Our faith is something we can duck behind and find shelter in. Only this shield of faith can block and even extinguish all those flaming arrows of the evil one. I’ve felt the sting of these arrows in the past couple years. Arrows of insecurity and depression; pride and fear; doubt and loneliness. I’m sad to admit that my shield of faith has often been found on the ground instead of in my hand. There have been many times that I forgot what my strong God has already done; what we’ve already come through; what has been promised and guaranteed by the Faithful One.

I have often reflected on how difficult this experience has been. Sometimes it doesn’t feel like we’ve made much progress. We continually struggle with feelings of failure and discouragement. But Paul seems to be okay with that. In fact, he says that wearing all this armor and holding onto this shield of faith will enable us, not to storm the gates of hell, but to simply stand. I find a great deal of encouragement in that! There are many days that we do nothing but stand our ground. This fortress of God has come under intense assault. The “day of evil” has certainly come. But we are still standing. And we will continue to stand.

The best is yet to come! The shalom of God is on the horizon! The miraculous is just around the corner! Victory draweth neigh! Lift up your eyes to the heavens, people of God! He is coming in power! Our protection and deliverance does not come from within, but from a Warrior God whose glory covers the whole earth! Here He comes! Stand and see!