Warriors Don’t Always Have to War
God doesn’t need you to fight all the time...
Let’s be honest. Those of us from the hood know what it’s like to take off our earrings, throw on a little Vaseline (for the knuckles and the face if you was ‘bout it, ‘bout it); and put your sneakers on to head to a fight. We got the call, whether from family or friends, and we got ourselves together to go take care of business. If you ‘said’ Amen while reading that, then sis, this is for you.
I remember when the Holy Spirit revealed a few things in my family’s bloodline (on both sides) that were damaging me. They weren’t just used to create external storms, but internal chaos. One of those things was the need to defend and protect myself – no matter the cost. While much of this behavior is rooted in pride, rebellion, and anger, it was the norm for many of us. We saw it, so we mimicked it.
Sadly, this has followed many people into adulthood and their walk with Christ. God took my feisty ways and taught me how to fight in my prayer closet, using nothing but His word (the best weapon on this side of heaven) and worship. While there’s nothing wrong with healthy confrontation and addressing things that need to be addressed (from a place of love and biblical truth), we don’t always have to be in fight mode.
So many of us come from so much struggle and fighting, that we don’t know how to let God defend and protect us. We struggled growing up, so to avoid being broke today, we chase the bag over chasing the Bible. We got used and abused, so we vowed “never again”, making sure not to let anyone in, which caused us to put up a guard where God only asked us to place healthy boundaries. And the idea of resting in God’s providence on all sides is foreign because we don’t trust Him enough to fight all of our battles for us. Here’s the reality:
1) We may have come from a fight, but we don’t always have to be in fight mode. While it did take some time, I started taking God’s word seriously when it came to trusting Him to “fight my battles”. We quote this all the time, but to understand what that means, you have to recognize that even if you came from a fight, you don’t always have to be in fight mode. The enemy would love for you to be so exhausted from fighting the battles God only asked you to pray about, that you have no energy for the seasons of life that will require real warring (in the spirit). That’s why you have to…
2) Learn to battle wisely. As a disciple of Christ, warfare is a part of the journey. Jesus made it clear that in this life we would have suffering, but to take heart, because He has overcome the world (John 16:33). Throughout much of the New Testament, Jesus prepares His disciples through teachings on how to stand guard against the enemy and how to be prepared for the hard things that they would face. So, there’s no doubt that battles are a part of life. However, you have to know how to battle wisely. Even in the darkest, craziest season of your life, God is a strategic God when it comes to helping you do this. You have to ask God what the spirit behind the warfare (prayer strategy), what the attack is about (what the enemy is trying to block or prevent from happening that God has ordained), and what scriptures you need to navigate the attack (Luke 4 shows us why this is important). This way, we’re not fighting a part of the battle that belongs to God. He may want you to pray, not move, and He handles the other part. But learning to battle wisely comes from…
3) Trusting in the “quiet mode” when God activates Exodus 14:14. There are seasons when God will say, “Be still”. This too is a part of battling wisely; however, many people get to seasons like this and still wage intense war against the enemy, then wonder why they’re being beaten up in the spirit. Yes, we are warriors and there are times we’re called to the front lines of the battle. There are also times when God is saying, “The Lord will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace”. During times or seasons like this, this doesn’t mean you aren’t praying, studying your Word, or worshipping. What Exodus 14:14 is saying in context, is that when you recognize you’ve done all you can do; you’ve obeyed God and you’ve come to a place where you can’t make it through to the other side (just like the Israelites), unless God parts the Red Sea (whatever your Red Sea is); you rest in Him and let Him take it from there – while still worshipping, praying, and studying the word. It’s a heart posture of trust. It’s also God allowing you to focus on other things, while He focuses on the battle that was never yours to begin with.
So, you’re probably asking, “How do I know when to war and when to rest?” Ask God. You’ll learn how to flow with God the closer you draw to Him while spending time in His Presence. Sometimes, when you notice your strength is low, that may mean you need to slow down and let Him take over. Other times, it may simply be you realizing that you’re at the end of your rope. And guess what, baby girl? That’s the best place to be because then you’re at the hem of His garment. Rest in that!