We all face challenges in life.

Thumb wars for example. Better pick your opponent carefully or you don’t stand a chance. Or the memory game with a ninja five year old who has a hyperthymestic memory. Yes, I did look up hyperthymestic. Nice word isn’t it.

A few ladies from my church and I have been doing an online study this past week all about taking our thoughts captive and making them obedient to Christ (2 Corinthians 10:5). It’s been so encouraging to share with one another the struggles we experience with this. However, we realised we needed to go back a couple of verses to be reminded that, “For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does.” (2 Corinthians 10:3)

So often as we face battles and challenges we tell ourselves to grow up, put on our grown-up pants and just get on with it. We think that we should be able to change our own thought pattern. We should be able to solve the situations that face us. We are strong, capable, independent women so crack on, yes? No.

Jesus gives us a different example. Our temptations, trials, struggles and challenges might not be on a level with not eating in a wilderness for 40 days, but the method of attack is still as valid as ever. Jesus showed us that the way to overcome those trials, rogue thoughts, anxious patterns and up-close battles is to go back to the Word of God.

It is in the Word of God that we can wage our battle and stand as God does the fighting for us. It is in the safety and security of Holy Scripture that we find respite, relief and comfort. It is in the Bible that we find the guidance, direction and answers needed for how to respond or what to think about a situation.

We don’t wage war as the world does. We don’t panic as the world does. We don’t get anxious as the world does. We don’t fear as the world does. We don’t rely on ourselves to be ‘enough’ as the world does.

Whatever challenge you’re facing at the moment – take it to Jesus, take it to His Word.

¹⁰ Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. ¹¹ Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. ¹² For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. ¹³ Therefore 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. ¹⁴ Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, ¹⁵ and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. ¹⁶ In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. ¹⁷ Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
(Ephesians 6:10-17)