Under Construction

Sometimes, due to life’s circumstances or that basic selfishness that dwells in all of us, our hearts become construction sites. We become engrossed in the task of building thick stone walls to protect ourselves from the daily onslaught of flaming missiles being hurled at us from our enemy. Our hearts become lonesome and we retreat even further into our newly built, stone-cold fortresses where we trick ourselves into believing we can live quite comfortably until the attack is over. But instead of leaving us with that warm feeling of safety, we find we have distanced ourselves from the very things that can bring security and peace. Meanwhile, our loving and patient heavenly Father gently counsels us through His Spirit to lay down our hardhats and our tool belts and pick up that shield laying at our feet – yes, the one that we have tripped over and stepped around as we worked – the shield of Faith.

“How old-fashioned!” we reason in our heads. “No one uses that anymore!” Ephesians 6:16 says, “Lift up over all the covering shield of saving faith, upon which you can quench all the flaming missiles of the wicked one.” Sometimes when life seems to press down on us and the battle is too hard, the answer is to simply trust. Having faith is not some unattainable thing – Jesus told His disciples if they had faith the size of a mustard seed they could move mountains! He knows our human tendency toward self-protection. He understands the weaknesses of our hurting and frightened hearts. If we will allow ourselves to trust God to protect us, we will find that place of softness and openness to Him and to those around us – that place that allows us to grow and to have meaningful relationships – that place of contentment and peace in the midst of struggle. “You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies,” Psalm 23:5a.
“Father, help me to cease construction and trust. Tear down what I have labored in vain to build. Ingrain in me that You have loved me with an everlasting love, a love that sees when I’m hurting and thinks I’m worth rescuing. Help me to see my weaknesses as opportunities to allow Your awesome strength to overpower me and shine through. And remind me that above all else, You are good and You are working things for my good. Help me to sit at Your table and be refreshed while You heal my wounds and change my heart.”