To be human and to be alive is to have conflict after conflict dogging one’s steps. This is confirmed by Ephesians 6:12, “for our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” Regardless, “The righteous person may have many troubles, but the Lord delivers him from them all, he protects all his bones, not one of them will be broken.” (Psalm 34:19-20).
However, the battles we must face do not occur only during adulthood, but rather from the beginning, at our birth. Revelation 12:5-17 paints a picture of this by telling us about a woman who is about to give birth. “The dragon stood in front of the woman who was about to give birth so that he might devour the child the moment it was born.” Psalm 22:9-10 provides the psalmists’ outlook on such a dismal situation: “Yet you brought me out of the womb; you made me trust in you even at my mother’s breast. From birth I was cast upon you; from my mother’s womb you have been my God.” Such a situation would seem unlikely to escape from, yet through the will of God, the woman was able to give birth to her child with no issues. Exodus 1:22 contributes to this narrative when Herod sought to kill Jesus. When he gave an order that “Every boy that is born you must throw into the Nile, but let every girl live.”
As it were, conflicts can emanate in the family, as exemplified in the story of Jacob and Esau in Genesis 27, where Jacob tricked Esau out of his family inheritance and birthright as the first son. This occurrence can also be seen in marriages, as seen in the way Samson and Delilah interacted in Judges Chapter 16. There are also conflicts that can be found in the marketplace, such as greed, wickedness, and blatant disrespect. I implore you to read Proverbs 6:16-19, Psalm 5:4-6, Habakkuk 1:13, Proverbs 15:9, Romans 6, Ephesians 4:17-5:20, and Galatians 5:13-21 to learn what not to do.
Knowing that battles are a part of life experience, we are, according to 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, to “be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”
Thank you for reading. The next publication will be on 7/20/26.
