There seems to be no end to the battles I am fighting. In this week’s Worship Wednesday post, Jennifer Wake shares with us the impact Michael W. Smith’s song “Surrounded” had on her faith in the face of battles.
The Battles I Am Fighting
by Jennifer Wake
MOMMY!!! I NEED YOU! Mommy, Mommy, Mommy! I remember days when I felt like my children surrounded me, all needing something. Â
My children were two, four, and eight when my husband deployed for the third time in 4 years. He was gone for many more months training to deploy. Oh how the days dragged on. They constantly needed me, wanted me, missed daddy. They went everywhere with me, even to the bathroom. Don’t get me wrong, I love my children, but during deployments, I felt like I was never alone. My children always surrounded me.
Surrounded by Different Battles
These days, my children are older, but now I am surrounded by organizations and groups wanting my time and energy. Schools have meetings for EVERYTHING! Sports have practices, meetings, and games. Activities have practices, meetings, and tournaments. Churches have services, meetings, and programs. The list of things and people crying out for my time and energy never stops. Hmm, like kids during deployments.
How can we change this feeling? We first turn to God. Pray and give praises. Ask for peace and strength. Pray for God to send his army of angels to surround us during these rough days. We fight our battles on our knees through prayer, by crying out to God.
Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. (Hebrews 12:1-2 ESV)
God Surrounds Us
God will surround us with his angels but also with other believers or witnesses. Ask your Christian friends to pray for you and with you. Have them hold you accountable to stop whining or yelling or having pity parties. They have their own struggles so ask how you can help them. Pray for them.
Get help! I got help from friends and my family when my kids were little and I felt like I was going to lose it. My mom and my in-laws came to visit and they called us. My mom seemed to know exactly when I needed to talk. Now I have friends who are in the same stage of life with older kids. We vent to each other. When our husbands deploy, we cry together and do life together, but sometimes that is not enough. Sometimes I need professional help. There are many counselors who volunteer in communities to help people. But you have to ask.
Take each day one day at a time. Don’t worry about tomorrow look at today. Each day that you work on your faith and prayer time will help your future feel less and less intimidating. God knows it won’t be easy. But he will surround us by his angels, and by friends and family. Â
God Knows the Battles I am Fighting
On our knees, one day at a time with help. We are surrounded so we are not alone. We are in this battle together. God wants us to remember He is with us. He sends his angel armies to surround us. Â He gave us Christian friends to surround us.
To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he might be glorified.
(Isaiah 61:3 KJV)
He says he will give to us beauty for ashes. and he will give us the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness. We need to lift our voices to heaven and remember God surrounds us.
He surrounds us with his love, and we are under his protection.
I pray “Surrounded” by Michael W. Smith will help you enjoy God’s victory in the battles you’re fighting.