Introduction
Every Christian will, at some point in time, encounter discouragement in their walk with God. It can become a crippling force that stops us from realizing our God-given potential and purpose. The first time I ever heard Billy Graham speak, he said something that stuck with me: "God never uses a discouraged Christian."
My
initial reaction was that this was unfair, as I was struggling with discouragement
personally at the time. But after some reflection, I realized that
discouragement can indeed cloud our vision and get in the way of God's best
work in and through our lives. To overcome, we must understand the armor of God
and how to apply it to stand firm in the face of spiritual battles.
The Reality of Spiritual Warfare
In Ephesians 6:12-13, Paul reminds us that our struggle is not against flesh and blood but against spiritual forces of wickedness. We are in a battle with unseen, powerful spiritual forces that are opposed to God's work in our lives. These forces intend to discourage, deceive and destroy us. What Paul here calls the evil day is sure to come upon every believer. It is not a question of if, but when we shall experience trials, tribulations, or attacks from the enemy. As surely as the winds and the rains are going to come in life, the storms of spiritual warfare will also definitely arise.
In the light of this,
Paul encourages us to put on the whole armor of God, that we may be able to
stand and resist the attacks of the enemy. The armor of God is not a metaphor
but a practical tool that we need to use daily in order to protect ourselves
and remain strong in the Lord.
The Breastplate of Righteousness
Of the six pieces of armor listed in Ephesians 6, I would like for us to examine two: the breast plate of righteousness and the shield of faith. These two are of primary importance for defending against spiritual discouragement.
The breastplate protects the heart, which is the center of our feelings, thoughts, and spiritual life. In his writings, Paul called this the "breastplate of righteousness." But this righteousness is not one of our own; it's the righteousness of faith working through love (Galatians 5:6). The righteousness we wear does not come from our works or because of our ability to be perfect, but by faith in God's grace and love.
In 1 Thessalonians 5:8, Paul speaks of putting on the breastplate of faith and love. This faith is not just some sort of intellectual belief but heart faith—it believes God's promises when all the circumstances seem to be saying something completely different. This kind of faith is guarded by love—the outworking of that faith in our lives. When we wear the breastplate of righteousness, it protects our hearts from the deceitful lies of the enemy, which would seek to make us feel unworthy, inadequate, or even abandoned by God.
When discouragement
strikes, we must remind ourselves that our righteousness does not rest upon our
performance but rather on God's love for us. We are justified by faith, and
nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:39). The truth acts like a
shield, fending off the enemy and warring against his accusations in order that
our hearts would be guarded and our resolve to continue in faith would be
strengthened.
The Shield of Faith
The second piece of armor I would mention is the shield of faith. In Ephesians 6:16, Paul declares that with the shield of faith, we are well able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. In general, a shield is a defensive weapon; but faith is our defense against the attacks of the enemy. The fiery darts represent all the lies, temptations, doubts, and fears that the enemy throws at us to weaken our trust in God.
Yet faith is more than passively believing; it also involves an active trust of God through His promises, an attitude of resting and standing on the Word and character of God, independently of our seeing or feelings. Just like a Roman soldier would hold his shield to cover himself from arrows and spears, we take up faith to protect ourselves against spiritual attacks that might come our way. Faith is not about mustering up enough strength to believe, but rather resting in the fact that God is faithful and His Word is true.
The shield of faith is a
corporate tool as well. In ancient warfare, soldiers would often form a wall of
shields to protect each other. In the same way, we are called to support one
another in the faith. When one believer's shield is weak, others can stand
alongside them and offer encouragement, prayer, and accountability. That is why
the body of Christ is so important; we are not meant to fight this battle
alone.
Practical Application: Standing Firm in Discouragement
Now that we have learned about the breastplate of righteousness and the shield of faith, let us think about how to put these truths into practice. The first thing we must do when discouragement comes is to realize that it is an attack spiritually. The enemy tries to make our faith small, and he tries to steal our joy. But we can stand against him by putting on the armor of God.
Put on the breastplate of righteousness. When you're feeling discouraged, remind yourself that your righteousness is not based upon your performance but upon the finished work of Christ. You have been justified by faith, and the love of God towards you is unassailable. Speak this truth over your life, and let it guard your heart from the lies of the enemy.
Taking up the shield of faith: When the fiery darts of doubt, fear, and despair come your way, hold up the shield of faith. Believe the promises of God, even when everything looks dim. Say that God is faithful, and that His Word is true. Do not let your feelings guide your faith; instead, let the truth of God's Word lead you.
Stand firm in the evil day. Paul says we are to stand firm in the evil day. When trials come, it is not a matter of giving up or giving in, but continuing on in our trust in God. Remember, He said He would be with us. We have the victory in Christ. The adversary wants us to give up, but God wants to continue building our faith and purifying our character.
Conclusion
Discouragement is a potent weapon that the enemy will use in trying to derail us, but with the armor of God, we can stand and resist his attacks. Put on the breastplate of righteousness and take up the shield of faith, that your heart and life may be protected from the enemy's fiery darts.
Let us remember that God has equipped
us for this battle, and with His armor we can overcome any discouragement that
comes our way. Stand firm, my brothers and sisters, for the Lord is with you.
He has already given you the victory.
