By Cyndi
Once again I looked at the weather forecast for the next few days and I dreaded the weekend—rain was coming. Again. So once again I’m thinking I’m going to have to move our bed and place a trash can to catch the water that’s dripping from the ceiling in our bedroom. Our roof is leaking.
Having gotten estimates from roofing companies we are now waiting for news about insurance coverage before the work begins. Meanwhile, “the mold guy” came to inspect the water damage on the ceilings (yes, plural). Looks like there is water damage for sure, even down a wall. There will be work to be done.
Naturally my good Christian full-of-faith response to all of this is, “Praise God, He’s working all things for good!” However, honestly I must say this was not my first reaction. In fact, I felt quite overwhelmed.
So for a moment let’s try to not pretend and put on our Sunday morning church faces and just be real here. There are actual battles we are all fighting—some emotional, some financial, some physical, some a combination. And they can be scary. Cancer is scary. Additions are scary. Broken families and wayward children are scary. These are undeniably intimidating battles.
This Is How I Fight My Battles
One of the newer songs out now is Surrounded. It’s quite repetitive, doesn’t do much musically; it simply sings this phrase over and over again. Why? Well, let’s think about fighting for a minute, shall we?
Ever watch boxing? Is it just a few punches and the fight’s all over? Not usually. What about wrestling? Is it just one quick takedown? Hardly ever. Think about the different wars we’ve been in—how many battlefields were fought upon? And how long did those battles last? Many took years.
Self-defense teaches you that when you’re attacked, you hit, you kick, you scream, you poke, you jab, you stomp, etc.
Where am I going with this?
“This is how I fight my battles…this is how I fight my battles…this is how I fight my battles…this is how I fight my battles.”
“It may look like I’m surrounded but I’m surrounded by You… It may look like I’m surrounded but I’m surrounded by You.”
Psalm 125:2 says—As the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the LORD surrounds his people both now and forevermore. Like a mother hen covers her chicks to protect them, the Lord does the same with us. (Luke 13:34)
We are all fighting something and these are fighting words. Repeat them over and over again. Like a battering ram, bang “the door” down with your praise and thanksgiving. Strike your opponent repeatedly. Depression, grief, hardships, loneliness, financial ruin…sing over them, pray over them, quote the Word over them.
This is what I’m doing.
When I look at the water spots on my ceilings, I fight. As I’m patiently waiting for the roof work to begin, I fight.
Do I still get overwhelmed? At times. That’s when I take a breather, gather myself and my weapons (praise music, scriptures, prayer, phone a friend) and get back into the battle.
Father God is surrounding me. He will never not leave me. (Double negative for effect!) And He’s doing the same for you.