Running Quickly Toward the Enemy?

The words jumped off the page at me, "David ran quickly toward the battle line to meet the Philistine." 1 Samuel 17:48 Wait... what... he ran QUICKLY... to meet the ENEMY?! I stopped. Reread the passage. Yup... that is what it said!

You have to read the passage around it, 1 Samuel 17:45-50. The enemy has been taunting the Israelites and then begins to make fun of David's youth and size when David dares to fight him. It didn't matter to David. It didn't matter that Goliath was a giant, a full-grown man. Why? 

• David was sure in His God. He was coming in God's strength and on God's behalf. 
• David knew that Goliath was not defying the Israelites, but God.
• David was confident in what God was going to do. He described it graphically.
• David knew that the victory was coming from God.
• David knew whose battle it was and who was going to win it.

And so, he ran toward the enemy. He ran to meet the enemy. He used the weapons God had provided for him. He prevailed over the enemy when others had cowered. He prevailed through God alone.

Woah. 

Selah. 

Amen.

Those with chronic illnesses, those who have to be isolated, know the battles we fight on a daily basis seem immense. Many times, the battles are those of our thoughts and feelings. Let's face it, whether you are the person with chronic illness or close to someone with a chronic illness, the battle can be fierce. Maybe your battle is not that of the mind or the grinding away of the tedium of the chronic illness. You want just one day, one hour, without the fight. Whatever your battle is, God knows.

I don't know about you, but when the battles come, I want to run away from them. Running to them seems a bit... well... crazy, honestly. But, I think that is because I tend to try to battle them on my own. Yet, the battle is the Lord's. He has already won. He gives us this power and His armor. The battle is not ours, but the Lord's. Therefore, it is not crazy to run to the battle as David did.

Wow... my heart was challenged. 

• I can be sure in My God. I can move forward in God's strength and on His behalf.
• I can know that the enemy is defying God, not me.
• I can be confident in what God is doing.
• I can know that the victory is coming from God.
• I can know whose battle it is and who is going to win.

And so, I can run toward the enemy. I can run to meet the enemy. I can use the weapons God has provided for me. I can prevail over the enemy through God alone. 

He Knows Us

Someone asked me the other day what I liked to do for fun, for a hobby. I knew they were asking from a place of caring and compassion as my allergies, immune system, and conditions provide many limitations. I hesitated before answering. Many of my typical hobbies such as reading, music, and crafting have been severely limited due to increasing allergies and decreasing mobility in joints. Hmmm... Cleaning and fighting for survival didn't seem like socially acceptable answers. Those answers also sounded depressing when my life is abundant (John 10:10) even having to be inside and isolated a majority of the time. 

My daily routine of health looks something like this: 4 AM meds and then beginning a three-hour med/snack routine from 6 AM to 6 PM; my house must be "white-gloved" and all fabric cleaned weekly although some things such as cleaning out cupboards are done every few months. All food must be made from scratch and be gluten, sugar, and dairy free, low-salt/carb and high protein; hydration and movement are vital throughout the day. Physical and occupational therapy must be accomplished. I work full time, a fact for which I am exceedingly grateful! My 12 braces and weakness hamper my speed a bit. Frequent infections sap some of the remaining strength many weeks. Remembering current limitations and allergies is a chore in itself. Whew! I know many of my chronic warrior friends can relate and have routines/limitations that are even greater than mine. 

I started thinking. Some weeks, the above tasks are cumbersome, tedious. Yet... it is becoming routine. If all of these restrictions and needs had come at once, I honestly would have quit. My thoughts turned to Exodus 13:17-22. God didn't take the Israelites on the most direct route straight out of Egypt. Why? They weren't ready and would have turned back. However, He takes us step by step. As He did with the Israelites, our gracious Father goes with us to guide and protect us even if it is not in a visible cloud and fire as He did with them. (How cool would that be, though!) He takes us on a path that is designed with our current needs and growth in mind. Psalm 103:13-14 sums it up well. As a Father, God shows us compassion and remembers our frailty. He knows where we are at and what is best for us.

Looking forward to the future, my health routine will change and grow. Yet, I have no fear. God is guiding me and walking with me. He will never leave. (Hebrews 13:5b) He knows the way that I take. (Job 23:10) As He did with the Egyptians, He will take me on a path for which He will provide. 

As Dad said many times, "Who wouldn't love a God like that?"