Breakfast at Tiffany’s: God’s got this, even in the foxhole

“He that dwelleth in the secret place of the Most High Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: My God; in him will I trust.”  -Psalm 91:1-2 

I once heard a story from a person who was in basic training for the Army National Guard. One of the hardest parts of their training was a night where they spent several hours rucking. This is usually a long run, sometimes lasting all night, all the while carrying backpacks typically weighing 35 lbs. Rucking is designed to build endurance, strength and mental toughness. But this wasn't the end of their training that night. For when they reached their destination, they had to dig themselves a foxhole which was to be their bed for the night. The soldier told me how by the time she arrived to dig her foxhole, her feet were blistered and bleeding and her legs were so tired, they felt like Jello. Despite her overwhelming fatigue, sleep eluded her. Any attempts to rest were interrupted by simulated attacks of gunfire and bombs raging around her. 

In the quiet moments, loneliness and the reality of being so far from home permeated her thoughts. Though she knew that the attacks weren't real and that she would eventually return home, the physical exhaustion spoke lies to her that she would never make it through this. In a desperate attempt to connected to reality, she found a leaf that was laying on the ground next to her and she drew a picture of a person she loved. Every time fear started to overtake her, she would look at the picture on that leaf and remember - this would all be over soon. 

This reminds me of a similar situation when the enemy attacks us spiritually.  

His tactics are always the same; he waits until we are exhausted, sick, tired, wounded, abused and attacked. Then he increases it, and we feel all the despair he is wanting to weigh us down with. It is then that we doubt God and His word. It is there that all we see is the despair and the bullets and bombs trying to take us out. What we have to remember though, is that, just like the training ruck, the bullets and bombs are fake.   

I was in a similar situation for a bit. I have been going through something physical that limits a lot that I can do. In that, the enemy tries to lie to me and make me believe that I don’t have any value. He brings back the past hurts, abuses, sins and voices that said I wasn’t good enough.  

Just like the military training though, sometimes Christ allows us to go through things in life to train us for the real attacks we go through. He uses it to build our faith, to make us complete in Him (James 1:3-4), and equips us to wage war in Him for victory (Psalm 144:1)!

We have to remember - whether we are being trained or in an actual attack - God’s got this! He has never lost control and He is always there! Always remember that truly nothing can hurt you, truly you are safe, truly you are secure in Him. He is our refuge and no matter what happens, we are His and God’s got this!

God has reminded me of who I am in Him and what He has done in my life! He has performed some miracles and some healing that I didn’t even know I still needed. If you are God’s child, you are in Him, living in His victory and always remember: God’s got this!