Holding On to Too Much

I swam to an old sea cave before the battle. Our odds of winning were beyond scary. Soon my kingdom could be enslaved to the Sinades again. There was already talk of surrender. Once inside, I removed my helmet and wept the salt into the water. My armor clanked as I fell to the sea floor. I was not equipped for this. How could I possibly save my people?

I knew what I must do. I began untwining the straps that held my armor to my scales and placed it in a pile. Once I was unburdened from my armor, I closed my eyes and whispered, salt still streaming from my eyes. “Oh Lord, Protector of the sun and sea, this armor will do me no good. Only you can affect what is needed. I surrender this armor to you.†I breathed slowly, remembering our history. “You have been the one leading us. You are the one who died and rose from the dead to let us live in your freedom.†I floated in silence, letting this warm truth envelop me. “Save us once more so that we may raise the seas to your glory.â€

“You trust me?” I felt the question ripple through the waters. I could only nod.

“Sink your armor.” With a gulp, I pushed my armor down a dark crevice in the cave. It sank into the depths from which things never returned. Then I heard, “Now go.” Fear quivered down my fins as I looked at my bare arms. I clamped my eyes shut. “Oh, please Lord, give me your armor lest I fail and die!â€

“Oh, dearest child. See, I have given you my armor.”

“Where is it?†I looked again at my bareness.

“I sunk it beneath your skin. It will protect you.”

“No one will see it.â€

“That is how they will know that it was I who rescued you. Now go.” I trembled but began to leave. I stopped at the mouth of the cave. I almost smiled. “They will certainly laugh…both sides.†I could hear the smile in the Protector’s voice. “They always do.” • Abigail Scibiur

• We live in a broken world, and the enemy is out to destroy us (1 Peter 5:8). But Jesus came to save us. Through His death and resurrection, Jesus has guaranteed His victory over the evil one. Jesus fights our battles for us, and He also gives His armor to His followers. If we’ve put our trust in Jesus, we have the Holy Spirit in us, empowering us to take our stand against the devil. Yet, our help always comes from Jesus, not ourselves. How might this truth give you comfort?

Finally, be strengthened by the Lord and by his vast strength. Ephesians 6:10 (CSB)

Read Verses:

Exod.16.1-Exod.16.5|Exod.16.14-Exod.16.32|Matt.6.25-Matt.6.34