For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ.
— 2 Corinthians 10:4–5
Today was not great. It wasn’t exactly dreadful, it was just a difficult one where I felt like I was about 10 steps behind in every move I made. Like, I just couldn’t quite get it together. I even felt like the dog had a better grip on the day, and his stares were overwhelmingly judgmental.
Then I sit down this evening to read this verse:
For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds.
— 2 Corinthians 10:4
Whoa there, Paul. Simmer down there a sec. Weapons of our warfare? Divine power? Destroy strongholds? I mean, it’s just a case of the Mondays, right? Or maybe he’s got a point? After some self-reflection on the day’s undoings, a lot of my feelings of being out of sorts and falling behind were stemming from a long-fought battle of being overcome with self-doubt, anxiety and an overabundance of pride.
Self-doubt as in, “I can’t get it done, this situation is too much, I always get myself in a mess, God’s must be setting me up for failure.”
Anxiety as in, “Things are rough and are only going to get worse from here.”
Pride as in, “I don’t need help, or else people will realize I struggle. I need to get it together on my own.”
These are the building blocks of the terrible lies we believe that develop into the strongholds that can have such a grip on us that even an average day can be stripped of any joy, become overwhelming, and bring us to self-reliance to deal with it. A failing strategy every time.
When the strongholds leave us completely overcome with grief, anxiety and mental anguish, we have got to hold on to the very message of the Gospel, when the Divine Power came to a broken world and overcame death and sin, toppling stronghold after stronghold that had gripped the world for thousands of years. If Jesus Christ overcame death, something that no other being has overcome, how can any of us doubt any bit of his message when he tells us he is here for us, and he will overcome any stronghold we surrender to him.
When you are overcome, know that he will overcome the strongholds.
“A time is coming and in fact has come when you will be scattered, each to your own home. You will leave me all alone. Yet I am not alone, for my Father is with me. I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
— John 16:33