All of us should pay attention to what is coming at us: things that are keeping us from being the best that we can be in life. Consider the fiery arrows of worry and anxiety within you that can tear you down and leave you doubting the plans God has for you. So, we should pay attention and hold up the Shield of Faith so that things in this life cannot immobilize and defeat us.
Who is our shield of faith? It is God. The Bible teaches that God is our shield because he is faithful in all things that he does for us. He cares about you as an individual. He is invested in your well-being and wants you to put your hope in him, even when everything around you screams that it would be foolish to do so. The Psalmist declares that God is our shield.
Notice what God has given you to protect yourself. He has given you the shield of faith. You must hold up the shield of faith for protection. A shield will not help a soldier while it is on the ground or even at their side. However, if the soldier lifts it up to cover themselves, it shields them from enemy attacks.
Consider the shield of faith. When worries and anxiety come upon you and you become afraid, you must immediately lift up your shield. Whenever you are attacked with unpleasant circumstances and thoughts in your life, God can become your shield of faith.
At times, your faith in God may falter, but God’s love and care for you will never falter. The Bible proclaims this: “Faithful is he who is calling you to himself and utterly trustworthy.” Know that when you call on God, he becomes your protective shield that evil arrows cannot penetrate. Raise it as a shield, and it is effective against any challenge life throws your way.
God’s shield of protection surrounds you and deflects harm from all directions, friend or foe. So, lift up the shield of faith that covers you. Just as the Apostle Paul encouraged the Ephesians to take up the shield of faith, we too must take up this shield to extinguish the flaming arrows of unwanted situations. And Never Give Up! Never Give Up! Never Give Up!
By Dr. Walter Ghosten
chaplain@lhp.net
