“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.” - Ephesians 6:10-17

Mother always taught me to use a sword. She’d take up armor, fit it on my frail body, hand me a weapon, and show me how to fight with it. And even though I was too small to wear armor at the time, it drowned me, still I learned. So that later in life, when I was surrounded, I’d know exactly what to do. 

I love King David. He’s probably one of my favorite biblical characters, not just for his epic journey to the crown, but for his vulnerability. King David has taught me how to feel. It was his writings that I’ve held dear in my hardest battles, and his words have shown me how to talk to God when I’m hurting.

I’ve borrowed King David’s cries when I haven’t had words to say of my own, and his psalms as well as the other laments of Scripture have shown me that there’s still a place for me in the kingdom of God when I’m weak. Because He is strong, just as He is for you.

Because it was Jesus who said, “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven,” and “blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted” (Matthew 5:3-4). These words ring like a refrain in my mind. 

So maybe life has thrown a lot at you and the journey has taken a turn. Maybe the road has grown tiresome, and your soul has become weary. And maybe you don’t know where to go. 

But to the wounded soul life has stolen from, God can restore all that you’ve lost. To the weeping, “those who sow in tears shall reap with shouts of joy!” (Psalm 126:5). “Weeping may last through the night, but joy comes with the morning” (Psalm 30:5).

And to those fighting a hard battle you feel like you’re losing, the Lord of Heaven’s armies fights with you. And He fights for you. “Be still, and know that I am God,” He says in Psalm 46:10, and “Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed. Tomorrow go out against them, and the LORD will be with you,” He says in 2 Chronicles 20:17. And He means it.

So maybe tomorrow is a battle for you—whether you’re facing an army or just the day. Either way, I think King David can teach us how to fight and where we all belong when the battles rage on: in the presence of the Lord.

So I pray that the Word of God is your greatest weapon, that His truth washes over you in the mornings and when you’re weeping, and that His presence holds you in the deep, singing a song over you in the night. I pray His love surrounds you always.

But, as it is written, “What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him”  - 1 Corinthians 2:9