“The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and he helps me. My heart leaps for joy, and with my song I praise him.” - Psalm 28:7

There are times when we grow weary and weak at the fiery darts that are shot at us. We feel attacked, taken advantage of, just worn - like we can’t go on.

The Romans, when attacking a city, would interlock their shields, holding them around their unit like a single piece of armor, protecting everyone inside. They were safe from arrows or stones launched by the enemy inside this protective shell that they called the Turtle. If the fear didn’t overtake them and soldiers held their positions, they were protected by this impenetrable shell.

Just imagine the noise, the smell, the fear you would experience as you pressed forward into the fray under that protective shell. Arrows, spears, rocks bouncing off shields, the armed enemy trying to break through. Not being able to see where you are going. And hearing over the chaos of the battle, the voice of your commanding officer prompting you on, as you press forward toward breakthrough and victory.

Like those Roman soldiers, we are also in a battle. Make no mistake about it. But our battle is not against flesh and blood. It is not against our boss, our spouse, our kids, the difficult person we work with, or even our circumstances.

The Bible says that our battle is against powers and principalities in heavenly places - we fight spiritual battles masking themselves as worldly battles.

And just like the Romans soldiers in the protection of the Turtle, we often can’t see who we are really battling against. But we can know that God sees and that He can lead us to victory. As the battle rages, as the noise and clamor intensify, when the fear mounts, remember: when the battle is most severe, a breakthrough is most near.

Lock arms with those you can trust. Rest in the promises in His word. Trust that God will never leave you or forsake you. He will not fail you. He will give you strength to do all that He has called you to do so that we can be more than conquerors, able to do all things through Christ who gives us strength. The voice of your Master is prompting you on toward breakthrough and victory.

Don’t give up.

Questions for Thought

1. Where is an area you feel under attack?

2. Do you often feel defeated in that place?

3. How can God lead you through this to victory?