“The LORD your God who goes before you will fight for you.”
God Can Handle the Battle
I need God to fight for me.
Don’t get me wrong. I’m strong. I’m capable. (You are too.) But I can’t do it alone. (You can’t either.)
I’ve tried. Haven’t you? I’ve tired to just handle it. While life gets stressful or the worries keep me up at night, I want to handle it myself. I want to pull myself up by my boot straps and just tell myself to BE OKAY. STOP WORRYING. And do whatever I can to make the situation work out.
And then Deuteronomy 1:30 stares back at me from page 237 of my Bible.
God goes before me. God fights for me.
I wrestle hard with this. I know He goes before me, I’ve been taught since I was little that God is timeless, so He is already there. But it’s different thinking of Him purposefully going before me into a battle — choosing to stand between me and the fight. That means a lot to my little warrior heart — the one that loves to fight for what is true and right, but often feels deeply tired.
And He will fight for me? Okay, I hear that. But when I don’t feel better and I don’t immediately see a change in the battle before me, I wonder if He needs my help.
(I’m not being sarcastic here. I genuinely start to ask if there is something I’m supposed to do here — surely the right answer isn’t just for me to sit back, stand still, and just watch?)
“But also, God, I can be a lot of help if you need me. I can go ahead and step in? I’m pretty good at taking care of business, God, if that would be helpful here?”
He never takes me up on my offer. But I often wish He would.
I’m there right now. I’m watching a battle right in front of me and there is so much I could do to help! (I think.) But I hear God whispering to me from the battlefield, “Stand still, Annie. I’ve got this.” So I’m wringing my hands and shuffling my feet, barely able to stay in place. Or. I can choose peace. I can connect my heart to His heart and feel a rush of peace knowing that He has got this. Because He does. He really does.
And now I’m crying because I’m writing for you but I’m writing for me.
His ability to do the miraculous doesn’t mean I’m not capable. It just means He is God and He can handle it. And He can handle me. And He can handle whatever the battle is that I am facing.
Peace, friend. Let us rest in this truth today.
(Have you heard Natalie Grant’s song “King of the World”? I’ve got it on repeat right now, because He’s always been the King of the World, able to handle every battle and always before us.)
Do you have a hard time believing God will actually fight for you? How have you seen God go before you recently? What area of your life or situation do you need to claim the Deuteronomy 1:30 promise over?
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Annie,
One of my favorite verses is Exodus 14:14 : The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still. Like you, I’m a fighter. I will thrash, and flail, and punch away at my opponent until I’m entirely spent….and then….maybe then….I’ll realize that I needed God’s help from the beginning. After 5+ decades on this earth, I have finally come to realize that GOD’S GOT THIS. He really does. He doesn’t need my help. Whatever it is I’m facing, God already has it under control. Nothing can thwart or overcome God…nothing. So why do I fight so hard, when I’ve got the Creator of the Universe in my corner? I’m not sure?? Pride? Fear? Lack of trust? All of the above? Even when God suits us up in our armor, He then tells us to do one thing. That one thing is STAND. He wants to protect us because He loves us. Life’s battles can be too much for us. The enemy is certainly a vicious adversary. God knows we need Him to fight our battles. I’m finally learning to let God do what He is best at….let Him do the fighting for me….and trust that He’s got this. Sharing your struggle, Annie, but joining with you in standing and being still. Great post!
Blessings,
Bev xx
This was so good to be reminded of today. I fight a battle at work every day and I find myself trying to fight it on my own. Thanks for reminding me that HE is more than able to fight my battles. I need to be still. Blessings to you.
Kathleen
Kathleen,
Praying for you now sweet sister! Fighting battles at work is hard. I know I’ve done it myself. Just pray for a discerning heart to hear God’s will for you in this situation. May God surround you with His loving arms and make known to you that He is fighting this battle for you. Remember Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the plans I have for you” declares the Lord. “Plans to prosper you and not to harm you. To give you a hope and a future”. He is fighting for you now. Just stand back and pray hard.
Blessings 🙂
Thank you I really needed to also hear what you wrote from your heart. I am going through a battle and it is so hard battling my emotions so I can stand still and know God’s got this too! I know I am not alone in this or anything I have gone through or will go through. The song “I am no alone” is playing in my mind, such a wonderful song, such a wonderful Father I have!
Loved this devotion! The Lord gave me this verse when I was fighting a battle with anxiety. I will fight for you, you need only be still. It was like a light bulb came on, He will fight for me! Wow! And all I need to to is be still. But oh hard that is, we still think there is something that we need to be doing. Believe me can relate thinking there must be something I can do. So hard to learn to just sit back in quietness and trust. Yet learning to be still and know that He is God, he’s got this! Thank you for your devotions, they always speak to my heart in a beautiful way!
Darlene❤️❤️
My word is “strong” for this year – strong in the Lord not myself – and what a great reminder this verse, and your thoughts are! Thanks!
Thank you ladies for the post and your response.
They have both blessed my heart tremendously. God ii and all is well.
I am presently right where you’ve both been.
Please pray with me that I’ll let go and let God
Juliette,
Sometimes God has literally had to pry each finger off things of which I just won’t let go (stubborn girl that I am). But, it never fails, that when I let HIM handle it and finally let go, then God has room to work. Praying with and for you sister!
Blessings,
Bev xx
I am so gratefull for your post! We all need a renewal and a reminder of the most important part of our lives is God! Thanks for sharing! Soft Hugggs and prayers!
Thanks for writing, Annie. When I pick up my phone the news always pops up first. So I read an article. Then I read yours. Thankful to be encouraged. Thankful that Jesus is the King of the world and that He goes before us, and that He goes to fights we don’t even want to get into. God is good.
This hit me exactly where I am today. I feel like the words you wrote validated some of the questions that I’ve had on my heart (“God do you want me to do something? Or just stand still?”) & reminded me of the truth I need my heart to settle on. Thank you for writing this so honestly from your heart – God totally used it in mine.
Annie,
My saying for a while has been “God’s Got This”. I know I’ve witnessed it a few times. A friend battling stage 4 colon cancer and not expected to live is completely healed. My aging dad had severe dementia and was hospitalized last year. Now he is whole again and back to his normal. The best thing we can all do is put on the full armor of God, stand firm and pray hard! The Lord will fight our battles for us and if we need to do something He will let us know.
Praying for everyone here. We all have battles/trials that we are facing at some point. God is watching over us and interceding for us. The devil will not will!
Blessings 🙂
I really needed this ! Thank you Annie! May His peace rule in your heat and mind always! In Jesus’ Name, Amen! Happy Sunday ❤❤
Oh Annie, so much this “His ability to do the miraculous doesn’t mean I’m not capable. It just means He is God and He can handle it. And He can handle me. And He can handle whatever the battle is that I am facing.”
Thank you!! I am not crying but you were definitely writing for me today. I always want to help and it’s hard to do nothing!!!
Thank you!!
-Tammy
I just got a little giggle when I read this I’m glad someone else feels the same way.
How I needed this. I, too, am facing a battle at work and a battle in praying for my prodigal husband to return to God and to me and our children. I’m been wrestling with letting go and letting God work in his life and his heart. But I keep thinking I can help, I can do this or that. I listen to Natalie Grant’s song, too and try to tell myself to let go. Oh, I’m a mess. I want to let go, trust God completely and have peace during the waiting. Please pray for me and my family and my prodigal husband. Thank you. I know God meant for me to see this and take it in.
“The battle belongs to the Lord” So true and so hard to “Let go and let God” because I keep getting in His way. But He knows me and He plans around me. I thank you, Annie, and indeed all of you for your wisdom. You inspire me to keep learning and growing in spirit and grace. I especially thank You Father, for all that I am and all that I will be. God is good. All the time.
Peace to you all, ~ Kay
My eyes fill with tears as I read, I’ve been put a battle in front of me two years ago now, still cant fully believe God will fight for me or with me. I don’t believe truly He is for me and I can feel His love, I know He loves me but cant live that truth therefore, I have no peace in the midst of my trial.. I wish I was hopeful and full of faith. How do you get to believe in God’s love and word for us? When nothing is alright?
I was taught to resist the devil and he will flee, but submission to God comes first, that was often overlooked or misquoted. Sometimes, I think it’s God we’re resisting and we need to step aside and let Him be our shield. It’s almost like He’s telling us to get out of our own way.
And also to rest, I think a lot of women are suffering from PTSD without being in combat, except in the spiritual arena, God let’s the beloved sleep. Psalm 127:2, Ladies, stop try to fix everything and everybody, you can’t.
Such a wonderful post, thank you for this… exactly what I was looking for! Would someone mind to please pray for a few unspoken requests? Thankful for this community❤
This has been my struggle. Learning to know God and at the same time being pummeled with one heartbreaking situation after another…exhausted here and failing in trusting Him as much as I want too and keeping my heart and eyes pointed to Him while things fall apart around me. I can also begin to see that the paradox may be that God can make us victorious even when our eyes can’t see it. That maybe the victory and justice we are so hungry for isn’t always played out in what is before us, but maybe it is showcased inside us where He is doing that perfecting work we all want to say “yes” too, while we struggle to understand that rearranging our natures to more reflect Him and His perfection is a bit of a painstaking process..even with the most willing of hearts. I don’t know if I will ever come to see a victory that is tangible in the physical, but maybe He will grant me the grace and strength to be victorious in how I honor Him in how I handle it…or rather don’t handle it, as in standing still and knowing He is God and letting Him fight my battles. Oh for the strength needed to keep running this race, pressing into Him.
Alexandria,
How I can relate to your post here. For my husband and I, it has been more than a decade of loss and heartache as well. Among our family business that was hit hard in 2006 with the economic crash of 2008, I lost my Mom in 2007. Since then, its been one loss after another.
Currently, I have been forced to stand alone and allow God to take what remains. My husband struggles with questions of how we got here and we both try to see what God is trying to show us. I think Annie’s blog is so true for all of us at different stages of our lives. Our response to heartache, loss and forced change reminds me of the verses in 1 Peter 1:6-9. Verse 7 “that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ.” I try to hold onto this, as I’m certain you do too. Sometimes, we don’t see what is around the corner, but God does. I believe, even when I don’t always “feel” it, that God does have our lives under control and that He has a purpose for all that comes our way.
God bless you as you lean on Him for strength & walk with grace through these difficult times.
Annie, this was such a gracious gift from our Lord to read these beautiful words you wrote. So many of us here are in a battle (me too :)). But out Lord is helping me to see that He never asks us to do more than He empowers us to do because He knows how He made us. I share your tired heart, Annie, and ask our Lord if it is fear or pride, or lack of trust, Bev. The Lord has helped me to see that sometimes its the change that we fight so hard, especially when groomed to go out and do. Alexandra, what beautiful revelation! A priest I read said that righteousness is a right ordering of us to the Lord, that conformity you spoke of, and yes it can be so painful but there is such victory. I pray with you for that strength to not only run the race, but to surrender to Him to let Him fight and let me rest and serve in His time and way with humility. May we each have that meekness, that gentle strength that takes more courage to have than what we think is strength, as we rely on Him to fight those battles that we can’t 🙂
The timing of this devotion just blew me away. I had some abnormal results on blood work this past week and my Dr. is sending me tomorrow for additional tests. I know God is in control, He’s watching over me and He is the Great Physician! I needed the gentle reminder to allow God to handle this and remove myself from the worry aspect. God is going before me and He already knows the outcome. My job is to trust Him and believe that He knows what He’s doing and as His child, He loves me with an everlasting love. I too have been taught these truths my entire life. I just need to be reminded from time to time. So thank you, Annie, for this devotion and whisper from God through you!
Prayers would be greatly appreciated.
Hi Annie, nice to see you writing on (in)Courage again. It reminded me of Colossians 3:15: “Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts”. It’s that word ‘Let’. Sometimes I don’t feel peaceful and I’m not doing the letting.
I totally feel your struggle. I too am watching a struggle with one of my loved ones that I so want to handle differently than they way it’s being handled, but God keeps telling me to leave it to him. Your blog today was one of those reminders from Him that He’s got this. I just need to step out of His way. I think sometimes we stay in the struggle so long, that we wind up getting run over because we’re in the way.
Thank you bless you…I’m crying, too, now… as I go around the same mountain again (8th time in 22 years) facing another battle of basic survival…. only now I’m 59 not 37 and I’m really scared. Again.
Annie,
Thank you for this on so many levels. For being honest, for walking a grave journey and leading us on, and for voicing what we all feel. On an aside, you’ve shown me how to write without giving all the answers! I don’t have all the answers, I just want to walk with people as we figure it out together. You modeled that today. Thank you.
Niki