Sometimes we must put on the full armor of God and fight the good fight of faith. But we must never forget that at other times, we must leave the battlefield and return to the fortress.
We all go through periods in our lives when we feel as if challenges follow one after another, without giving us time to breathe. Or we are so motivated to resolve several details in our lives that we undertake one project after another. But God did not create us to be constantly in a state of battle. Psalm 46:1 (or 2, depending on the version) reminds us that God is a refuge, a fortress. His Spirit is a kind of rampart that is essential for our victory. This image of a fortress is indeed a very beautiful representation of God’s Presence.
It is in the fortress that we find safety, that we are protected. We all have challenges, even the Bible says so. “Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all” (Psalm 34:19 NKJV). However, we were not created to be constantly on the battlefield. We must regularly return to the fortress to regain our strength, to heal, and of course, to see God fight for us. Sometimes we need to stop trying to convince those around us and let God convince them. Sometimes we need to stop trying to solve a problem and leave the outcome in God’s hands. If we feel exhausted, hurt, pessimistic, or discouraged, it is a sign that we need to return to the fortress. The Presence of God is our stronghold, but also our local church and even Passion374, to a certain extent. It is where we find ourselves among Christians, in a good environment.
Several centuries ago, it was inside the fortress that the inhabitants found the food and supplies they needed. A beautiful image of what we find in God, as Jesus mentioned in his prayer: “Give us this day our daily bread” (Matthew 6:11 NKJV). We need to consult Him daily to have what we need to face the battle raging outside the walls. Prayer is not a waste of time; on the contrary, it is a way to sharpen our swords to be more effective later. For a single person, developing this sensitivity to the Holy Spirit through small daily challenges is so useful for knowing God’s will when we meet a potential partner.
It was also inside the fortress that the celebrations took place! Life comes with many serious problems, but we must not forget to celebrate and have fun. Even when God dictated His laws, He listed all kinds of celebrations to follow. God desires us to enjoy the life He has given us. “Nothing is better for a man than that he should eat and drink, and that his soul should enjoy good in his labor. This also, I saw, was from the hand of God” (Ecclesiastes 2:24 NKJV). We were not created only to work, but also to have fun and develop our creativity. And for single people, having good hobbies can help us in our search for a partner. It makes us much more pleasant to be around, giving us many exciting topics of conversation. It also gives us good activities to do while we are dating.
Finally, although life is much more pleasant inside the fortress and we need to take refuge there at times, let us not forget that we still have a mission to accomplish. God does not want us to hide behind the wall. We must rest, have fun, and equip ourselves to return to the battlefield in force.