Post numeros dos in the flaming arrows series. We are discussing the flaming arrows in regard to Ephesians 6:10-18. We are told to take up our shield of faith with which we can extinguish the flaming arrows of evil one aka Satan.
Isolation. Everyone knows what it feels to be isolated. Whether physically, mentally, or emotionally (perhaps even spiritually). If you have an older sibling or two (or in my case four) you probably get this a bit better than others. At some point in your younger life, one of them decided it would be hilarious to lock you into that closet or small box or luggage. Suddenly you feel incredibly isolated and far away.
Sometimes you feel isolated in a crowd of people, or you feel alone. Especially when you are going through hard times. Or perhaps it is because you feel you do not deserve the people around you. That it is not possible that they could truly love you. Perhaps shame has driven you away from the others around you. It tells you that you are not good enough, that you are a mistake, that you should not speak with anyone. Everyone will only see the bad. The monster.
I am here to tell you, that that is a load of bull crap straight from the steaming bow of Katniss Everdeen turned Satan. He wants to make you feel isolated. He wants you to push everyone else away. He would love you to push God away.
See, Satan’s very purpose on this earth is to make us miserable. He will do anything it takes to ruin our lives. The thief comes to kill, steal, and destroy. He will stop at nothing to ensure you believe that you need to be isolated.
It is in those times alone and isolated, that he starts pumping you with lies, shame, and poison. Maybe you are going through that time right now. Suddenly every thought has turned to an accusation and it is driving you further from God, further from people, until you only have yourself and the thoughts that you would call your own.
I am telling you right now, to stop that. Stop isolating yourself. Do not push others away. Do not push God away.
Satan wants to make you feel alone. He wants you to feel helpless. You are neither alone nor helpless.
God loves you. I can almost guarantee you that you have someone who loves you dearly. They love you despite the bad, despite every mistake or choice you have made. It may kill them to do it but they love you. At the very least, I love you, Jesus loves you and God loves you.
Pursue God in those times. We are told that it is our shields of faith that extinguish the flaming arrows of Satan.
Have faith in God. In His love for you. His plan for redemption. Have faith in the people around you. That they will love you and choose to be by your side no matter what you are facing. You are not alone. Have faith in yourself. You are not lost, or disgusting, or a mistake. You can fight, and you will fight.
Isolation is a powerful tool for many reasons, but one of the greatest reasons, is because it puts the focus entirely on us and the arrows that Satan continues to shoot. Our mind becomes so drowned in our own concerns that we cannot think of God. We cannot think of others. It sort of feels like you are suffocating and drowning.
Do not allow that isolation. Push through it. I know how tempting it can be to allow the darkness in. Sometimes it feels overwhelming. God, the Light, always reaches a hand to His children.
Keep your faith. Keep your light.
Confide in others. Find a trusted, mature, Christian friend that you can confer with. You are not alone. Be prayed for. Pray. Fight against Satan’s arrows. He cannot isolate you if you do not allow Him to.
To understand the flaming arrows of Satan and to avoid them, we need to distinguish them in our lives. The next time you feel yourself withdrawing after something, ask yourself why and what is going to come from it? What normally comes from me drawing back and isolating myself is a whole lot of crying and inner accusation which can lead to super dark dangerous paths.
Be wary, the adversary the devil is prowling around like a roaring lion looking for whom he may devour. Keep alert. Watch out for your thoughts and the behaviours following shame, mistakes, or hard events when we need to draw closer to God. He is there, waiting for you, with open arms. Run to Him. Do not run away.
Father, thank you for always being by our sides. Thank you for extending your arms to us no matter the circumstance. Thank you that in the darkness you are a light that we can always reach for. Father, I pray when the devil comes with his flaming arrows, that our faith would extinguish it. Fight by our sides. Support us in our battle Lord. Give us your strength, wisdom, and power. Thank you for loving us and for always rooting for us.
In Jesus’ Name,
Amen.
Have a great week, and God bless!
~ Ashley
P.S. I sort of felt like those really paranoid and creepy dudes that are always in movies writing this, but if it helps to open even one eye, I will be okay with that.
A Light in The Darkness 