There Will Be Victory

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The last couple of weeks have been really hard on me and my husband. We’ve had some health scares and a lot of personal struggles that have felt so overwhelming. As I’m sure other couples can relate, I truly believe that Satan fears what a Godly relationship can bring to the Kingdom of God. In response to that fear, he wiggles in the best he can, using lies, fears, strongholds, and reminders of our pasts. He does his absolute best to usurp the power and protection that Jesus has over that relationship. The closer Ethan and I grow to each other and God, the harder Satan fights against that threefold cord.

As we have struggled to overcome these strongholds in our own lives and marriage, there has been a story from the Old Testament I’ve fixated on: the story of the prophet Elisha and his servant in the book of 2 Kings. In this story, the king of Aram (present-day Syria) was waging war against Israel; during this time, Elisha was prophesying to the king of Israel in order to prepare him for the war that was coming. These next few verses are the interchange between Elisha and his servant during this battle: 

“When the servant of the man of God got up and went out early the next morning, an army with horses and chariots had surrounded the city. ‘Oh no, my lord! What shall we do?’ the servant asked. ‘Don’t be afraid,’ the prophet answered, ‘Those who are with us are more than those who are with them.’ And Elisha prayed, ‘Open his eyes, Lord, so that he may see.’ Then the Lord opened the servant’s eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha” (2 Kings 6:15-17, NIV). 

When Satan sinned against God and was cast down from heaven, he took with him a third of the Lord’s angels (Revelation 12:4). While this sounds like a scary number, we can take solace in knowing that the army of God outnumbers that of the Enemy’s by 3:1. Through the fears and heartbreaks, we have been given mighty weapons designed to break and smash all strongholds that have been formed against us. There will be victory. 

Are you facing seemingly impossible strongholds? Perhaps they’re strongholds of addiction, or mental illnesses, or pain from your past. Perhaps you feel as though you will never overcome the strength these strongholds have over you; I know I have certainly felt the same oppression. But in all of this, God promises us that those who are with us are far more than anything that could hope to overcome us. 

Sometimes these journeys of overcoming strongholds of addiction, mental illnesses, and pains from our pasts will take years. Oftentimes they require outside help such as counseling, and sometimes medication (tools which I have myself utilized). I firmly believe that all Godly help is a gift from our Father. He has equipped us with so much to ensure that there will be victory. He has given us people to love us through the journey, counselors that can help, and medications that can ease mental illnesses such as anxiety and depression. But above all, He has promised us an army that will never be overcome. There is no stronghold too powerful that the Lord cannot break and smash. 

Are you facing one of these strongholds? Do you need someone to walk with you through this journey? Feel free to contact me through the email in the “About Me” section of this blog. In your trek, remember: the same power that raised Jesus from the grave lives in us (Romans 8:11). Whenever we struggle against powers we cannot comprehend or stand against, we have an almighty, perfect, and loving Father waiting with open arms. 

“God is not shocked. He has the remedy. He is awaiting our humble, earnest, cry for help” (Beth Moore, Praying God’s Word). 

“Bring all your failures,
Bring your addictions, 
Come lay them down 
At the foot of the Cross -

Jesus is waiting there
With open arms”


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