Sometimes Life is Like Dodging Fiery Darts!

Life can sometimes resemble a battlefield when we’re dodging the fiery darts of doubt, stress, betrayal, worthlessness, fear, and exhaustion. Do you ever feel like you need a shield to protect your emotional and mental health?

I was watching the movie “Risen,” and was surprised at the many uses a soldier’s shield had. The various ways it could be used made it a crucial weapon in battle. A scene in the movie showed one example.

Every soldier on the battlefield holds a shield in front of his body. In unison all the men lift their shields above their heads, transforming their shields into a protective covering for the entire army. Seconds later, the men at the back of the line climb onto the shields and run across them toward the front line. To make a shield more lethal, a spike protruded from the front of some shields.

That was so cool!

My history-lovin’ husband told me that Roman soldiers used their shields for breaching walls and for carrying wounded bodies off the battlefield. Shields were also used as protection from the sun and rain.

Additionally, Greek soldiers used their shields to create a rectangular formation called a phalanx. This was considered to be the deadliest battle formation of the ancient world.
Some shields had a metal piece across the middle, which enabled the soldier to use the shield as a weapon to punch the enemy or to push forward. The shield was also used for protection against fiery enemy arrows.

Understanding the remarkable ways a shield can be used certainly changed my view about things. God’s shield allows us to get around our doubts and enable us to dodge our fears. His shield empowers us to conquer obstacles. God’s shield of protection moves us in the direction we need to go. That same shield will safeguard our mind when we’re faced with comparisons and feel as if we’re not good enough. And this may be the sweetest: God carries us when we’re wounded, brokenhearted, and weary.

In Ephesians 6:16, Paul wrote about the shield of faith: “Take up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.”

God is our shield. He won’t allow the devil’s flaming arrows to pierce us, to utterly destroy us.

Today we can be assured that God will help us with our defensive strategy. All we need to do is ask. Remember, as Christ-followers we are already victorious.

Which fiery dart is Satan hurling toward you today? In what ways do you need God to protect you with His shield?

Copyrighted: Deborah Presnell