Zechariah 10:3 The LORD Almighty will care
for his flock, the house of Judah,
and make them like a proud horse in battle.

When God visits His people, He doesn’t lift them out of the battle, but rather strengthens them in it. This is exactly as Jesus prayed before His crucifixion. “My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one.” (John 17:15) In general, we would rather be lifted out of the battle! However, God has His good purposes for everything He allows us to experience, however hard that might seem at the time. This world we inhabit, though beautiful and wonderful, is under a curse because of mankind’s sin, and it will be that way until Christ’s return. That’s not to cause us to despair, but rather to lift our eyes and hearts to God and rejoice in Him, regardless of what is going on physically and spiritually around us. We’ve got to remember that “In all these things we are more than conquerors.” (Romans 8:37) That is easier to say than to do, but it is in learning to walk in it that we are liberated from all sorts of chains and snares and traps the devil tries to tangle us in.

This is exactly where I am right now, which is why the Lord has me preaching on Armor on Sunday, talking about the spiritual warfare that surrounds us. It is easier to give advice to others than to take it myself! The difficulty of course escalates when diverse problems come at the same time, and I’m certainly experiencing that. I need to read and apply what the Lord has caused me to write in recent weeks. That’s certainly proof that someone with Teacher gifting can teach what they can’t do very well! I’m reminded of the person at a summer camp who taught children to swim while the children were in the water and they were standing on the dock, going through the motions. I don’t have the luxury of staying on the dock! However, God doesn’t want “ivory tower” shepherds for His flock, He wants people who have been tried and purified in the fire. I need to rejoice in that and trust Him, remembering that He will get me through.

Father, it’s just as I tell others: the minute I fix my eyes on people and circumstances, I’m tempted to duck and run. It’s only when I choose to fix my eyes on You that I am able to make it through. Help me do that, today and each day. Help me not demand answers for tomorrow’s problems today, but trust You step by step. Help me apply myself faithfully to each task at hand, in turn, and not try to tackle everything at once. That’s a real recipe for panic! I pray that I would be effective in communicating this truth to the believers as well as consistent in walking it out myself, so that Your purposes may be accomplished on Your schedule for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!