by Heather Garner
“God has given me His shield of victory. His right hand supports me; His help has made me great.”
Psalm 18:35
Grit.
The word grit sounds a bit uncomfortable like when you are leaving the beach and you fail to empty out all the sand from your shoe. Gritty. Irritating. Annoying.
My pastor gave grit a whole new meaning today in his message. Some synonyms for this gravelly word are backbone, spirit, courage, resolve, and determination. According to Angela Duckworth’s book, “Grit” is the combination of passion and perseverance. It’s about moving in a direction with consistency and endurance, like having a clear inner compass that guides all your decisions and actions.
For me personally, I LOVE the idea of being savage and sweet at the same time. Waking up every morning with a smile, motivation, and a skip in my step. Having the confidence and strength of a warrior to slay all day. However, if I’m being honest, there are times when I feel such a heaviness that I have to force myself out of bed in the morning. I struggle with depression. I go through seasons of dark. I feel like there are weights tied to my feet some days. I hear lies that squelch my confidence; “You are never going to be good enough or strong enough or smart enough.” As a woman who loves and follows Jesus, I tend to beat myself up because I know God loves me and meets me where I am and I have so much to be thankful for. Yet, I detect no joy. Feeling like an empty shell of a woman. “You are so ungrateful,” the devil utters. In John 10:10, Jesus says, “the enemy, the thief, comes to kill, steal, and destroy.”
Don’t worry, sweet friends. My story doesn’t end there and neither does yours. Satan may be smart and sneaky and strategic but he has no power and has already been defeated. When God struck him he fell down like a flash of lightning. Satan has nothin’ on Him. In Luke 10, Jesus’ disciples came back to report their joy over their authority over demons, Jesus, in so many words, tells them they should not have been surprised. My mind goes to the last battle scene in C.S. Lewis’s “Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe” in the last battle scene when the White Witch comes in with her gold armor wielding two swords looking all tough and Aslan the Lion, in all of His glory and power, roars on the mountaintop and within seconds, slays the White Witch. Boom. Done. Aslan, who represents Jesus, wrote the book on badassery.
Because of Jesus, the war has already been won. Take courage, princesses, we have already been rescued. God goes before us. Psalm 18:35 declares, “God has given me His shield of victory. His right hand supports me; His help has made me great.” Mustering up enough energy, persevering and being deliberate every day cannot be done in our own strength. In Ephesians 6, God gives us HIS armor to put on. God doesn’t offer us second-hand, used up trashy gear. He provides fresh, sharp, brand new extravagant protective covering every single moment of every single day. Nothing but the best for his children. He gives us everything we need and more to make it happen.
So suit up for battle. Grow grit from the inside out. We still have battles to fight. Spend time with God. Make prayer a lifestyle. Read your Bible. His Word is the truth and the truth will set you free and present you a fresh perspective and forward moving.
Romans 15:13 says, “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” So, when you fall, and oh, honey, you will, just get up, grab your shield, shake the sand from your shoes, straighten that crown and keep going.
Father God, thank you for always being with me especially when I stumble and fall. Help me to put on Your full armor. Give me the strength and the confidence and the peace and the perseverance that can only come from You. Guard my mind and write your truth on the tablet of my heart. Thank you for your Holy Spirit and for rescuing me from the muck and mire and for setting my feet upon a Rock. To you all the glory. Amen
Heather Garner is one of the strongest women I know. She loves passionately, listens carefully and always looks for ways to help people. She is a great mom who is raising her kids to live in the grace and truth of Jesus. She is the Care Director at Cape Christian, leads the Prayer Team and so much more. She is discovering her voice and allowing God to use her to bring freedom and hope to others. I know you will love her post today as much as I do.
– Cindy Grasso
Loved it! Always proud of you!