Have you noticed how often trust in God amounts to expectation of victory over one’s enemies?
Makes me wonder if trust can really be developed in a challenge-free, problem-void environment. If everything were smooth sailing, we might just be tempted to forget about needing a defender. From what would we need to be defended if everything seemed to be going just fine?
And yet, for many, most of the time things go well. In fact, many boast that things are going well because the Lord is on their side. But the reality is that one often puts the winner’s spin on the situation, that is, view it from the perspective of a trusting one; so that trials are never viewed as completely bad, as the non-trusting one would make them out to be.
In other words, even though it seems that enemies may remind one, or even push one to turn to God for protection, a lot depends on a person’s mindset. The mental-spiritual posture counts. When I decide to trust God to defend me against ‘enemies’ I’ve already acknowledged that the Almighty is on my side, and so I expect to be defended, I look forward to victorying. I say, “If God is for me, who (of substance) can be against me?”
Then enemies are not only other persons who would oppose us, but even ourselves with the wrong attitudes and bad habits that could deter us from reaching the goal. And so, we fight against our worst selves and are cleansed from facets of our very nature that would pin us down, oppress and prevent us from reaching our destiny. Yes, there are enemies on the inside as well.
But of course, these are not the ones we pray that “coals of fire and sulphur will rain on, or scorching winds will destroy”. And still, we get rid of them gradually. Metaphorically then, these internal foes are also burned away, done away with, because in the better scheme of things, they also need to go, not just the ones who would torment us from the outside.
With that attitude, difficulties are understood as challenges to be conquered. Situations that are less than ideal become opportunities for improvement. Trust in God says that battles are there to be won; but my alignment foresees me as victor. Since I’ve chosen the winning side, I’ve got all the equipment that I need to claim victory, even when I leave the fighting to the most powerful One.
O Lord, burn up all the wickedness in me while you take care of the enemies on the outside. Thank you for deliverance. Amen.