During these turbulent times, I have found myself lately wanting to avoid Facebook because I’m finding all the negativity emotionally draining. While people are understandably very passionate about their feelings right now, it is mentally unhealthy for that passion to consume them. While one may hope to “win over” others to their side, passionate emotion more often than not has the opposite effect. One of my sayings is, “Where there is emotion, reason goes out the window.” Sometimes we need to know when to step back, reevaluate a situation, regroup with ourselves emotionally, and then decide where to go from there.
In our passionate emotion, in our seemingly innate desire to fight, how often do we fail to realize that not every battle is our own to fight? A song that comes to find is “Battle Belongs,” recorded by Phil Wickham in 2020:
When all I see is the battle, You see my victory
When all I see is the mountain, You see a mountain moved
And as I walk through the shadow, Your love surrounds me
There's nothing to fear now for I am safe with You
So when I fight, I'll fight on my knees
With my hands lifted high
Oh God, the battle belongs to You
And every fear I lay at Your feet
I'll sing through the night
Oh God, the battle belongs to You
And if You are for me, who can be against me? Yeah
For Jesus, there's nothing impossible for You
When all I see are the ashes, You see the beauty
Thank You, God
When all I see is a cross, God, You see the empty tomb
So when I fight, I'll fight on my knees
With my hands lifted high
Oh, God, the battle belongs to You
And every fear I lay at Your feet
I'll sing through the night
Oh God, the battle belongs to You
Almighty fortress, You go before us
Nothing can stand against the power of our God
You shine in the shadow, You win every battle
Nothing can stand against the power of our God
An almighty fortress, You go before us
Nothing can stand against the power of our God
You shine in the shadow, You win every battle
Nothing can stand against the power of our God
An almighty fortress, You go before us
Nothing can stand against the power of our God
You shine in the shadows, You win every battle
Nothing can stand against the power of our God
So when I fight, I'll fight on my knees
With my hands lifted high
Oh God, the battle belongs to You
And every fear I lay at Your feet
I'll sing through the night
Oh God, the battle belongs to You
Oh God, the battle belongs to You
Source: Musixmatch
Songwriters: Brian Johnson / Phil Wickham
Battle Belongs lyrics © Be Essential Songs, Bethel Music Publishing
If like me you’re feeling emotionally drained from the battle, maybe we need to evaluate whether it’s our battle to fight, whether to leave the battle to those who seemingly are better suited to fight it, or whether to just leave it in God’s hands and to trust that in his time he will handle it. The saying “let go and let God” comes to mind, meaning knowing when to recognize having no power to change a situation, while trusting that God can, if he wills it. I find these words of Jesus comforting: “Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows; but cheer up, for I have overcome the world.” (John 16: 33b TLB)
There’s also a saying about putting your own mask on first—we need to take good care of our own mental health first, or we won’t be of good help to anyone else. We need to recognize times when we are becoming mentally and emotionally overwhelmed and drained and to know when to step away, times to come away and rest, to connect with God and to be nourished with his strength and with his wisdom how best to handle situations and where best to go from here. Jesus said, “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28-30 ESV)
A song that comes to mind is “The Warrior Is A Child,” recorded by Twila Paris in 1984:
Lately I've been winning battles left and right
But even winners can get wounded in the fight
People say that I'm amazing
I'm strong beyond my years
But they don't see inside of me
I'm hiding all the tears
They don't know that I come running home when I fall down
They don't know who picks me up when no one is around
I drop my sword and cry for just a while
'Cause deep inside this armor
The warrior is a child
Unafraid because his armor is the best
But even soldiers need a quiet place to rest
People say that I'm amazing
I never face retreat
But they don't see the enemies
That lay me at his feet
They don't know that I come running home when I fall down
They don't know who picks me up when no one is around
I drop my sword and cry for just a while (I cry for just a while)
'Cause deep inside this armor (deep inside this armor)
The warrior is a child
They don't know that I come running home when I fall down
They don't know who picks me up when no one is around
I drop my sword and look up for a smile
'Cause deep inside this armor (deep inside)
Deep inside this armor (deep inside this armor)
Deep inside this armor (deep inside this armor)
The warrior is a child
Source: Musixmatch
Songwriters: Twila Paris
Warrior Is a Child lyrics © New Spring Publishing Inc., New Spring Publishing, Inc.
The lyrics speak of feeling overwhelmed in our spiritual battle in this world, the recognition of the need to have times of running into God’s arms in retreat when that battle becomes overwhelming, times of knowing when to step away and regain strength from the Lord.
Jesus also spoke about taking time to find a quiet place and rest (Mark 6:31). And when Jesus wanted/needed to connect with God, he would go away by himself to a quiet place (Luke 5:16, Mark 1:35, Matthew 14:23, and Luke 6:12). He knew he had to step away from the world in order to see the Father more clearly, to hear His voice in a way that wasn’t drowned out by the world’s.
May God grant us each one his wisdom to recognize in ourselves when we are feeling emotionally drained, to have his wisdom when to step back and spend quiet times with him to rest and renourish our souls, to regain strength to fight his battles with his wisdom when to instead leave the fight to others or to just let go and to let God.
