The Struggle // Ephesians 6:12

Yesterday we looked at Ephesians 6:11 and how we need the Almighty’s Armor to stand against the devil’s schemes. Our verse for today from Ephesians 6:12 reveals that “our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” This points to how we are caught up in the battle for humanity between the Lord and His enemy, which can feel at times like a struggle; especially in those times when we feel helpless, overwhelmed, exasperated, and exhausted.

Life is a struggle, isn’t it? We struggle when things don’t go our way, when we hurt, when we can’t make sense of things, and when we experience failure or loss despite our best efforts. One of the tactics Satan uses against us it to leverage our biological need for homeostasis (balance) with our desire for comfort. The collision between those two causes us to tend to avoid struggle. We don’t want to struggle, and certainly don’t like it, but there is purpose all the same. Struggling helps to produce perseverance in us, which forges character, and develops hope (Romans 5:1).

Many believe that struggle indicates a separation from God. Self-induced struggle due to sin might be, but the bottom line is God is always near! So, don’t avoid the struggle, but seek to get stronger and wiser. Ask God what lesson there is to learn and lean into that. Trust the process and know that life on the other side — even, if not especially in heaven — isn’t just better, it’s always worth it!