We do, at times, feel their weapons and their lashing words upon our hearts and wonder if any wrong will be righted. We do hope, by some small chance, of survival, although the turmoil can drag on and on so long that winning becomes a byword. Their power, it seems, is just too much to ever counter effectively. Many, living beat up and hopeless. Believing they’re forgotten. Suppressed, you could call it. Pressed down, never to rise again. Neglected ashes blown into the wind. The crushing blows pile high—making life an escape and others the enemy.

It becomes an insurmountable challenge to imagine being complete, to picture fulfillment, as it were, a place of peace. The type of strength we need is a type we’ve never in our life experienced, so, to hear God speak so boldly about the opposition takes a great faith to beget transformation. When crushed is all you know, it’s difficult to describe the feeling of weights being lifted.

In that case, it’s almost easier to stay down and turn a deaf ear to the Lord’s many decelerations than to give God the pain and begin to hold to his promises. We think, what have we from God if it not be immediate? How difficult the challenge to sustain a vibrant spiritual life under the pressure of a culture opposed to God.

Easier by far to become spiritually weaponized against others than to take up “love one another” as a battle cry. His word declared, a truth that must reach beyond that which we sense has been forged to destroy and condemn. Our vindication, through Christ, will always save by melting weapons and stilling tongues and, also, before we’re ever destroyed.

“no weapon forged against you will prevail, and you will refute every tongue that accuses you. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and this is their vindication from me,” declares the Lord.” ‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭54‬:‭17‬ ‭NIV‬‬