The Phrase Works: How Scripture Brings Hope, Peace, and Victory in Existence’s Battles

I started pondering that fact—what holds me befriend? I know the Phrase is worthy. I grew up in church, so I no doubt have a ton of verses readily on hand within the befriend of my tips, now not to order about 5 copies of scripture in diversified codecs. Good day, I could even unexcited acquire Obadiah in below 5 seconds (thanks, Bible Drill!) I’m additionally somewhat rapid to wish. But I’m now not rapid to crack my Bible, and I needed to resolve out why.

And I mediate it’s on myth of my coronary heart waffles on what my head is aware of is steady. My head is aware of that Timothy had it accurate here:

2 Timothy 3:16-17 (ESV) All Scripture is breathed out by God and winning for instructing, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the person of God could well just be entire, geared up for every excellent work.

And so did Peter.

1 Peter 1:24-25 (ESV) …for “All flesh is enjoy grass and all its glory enjoy the flower of grass.

The grass withers, and the flower falls, but the discover of the Lord remains perpetually.” And this discover is the excellent recordsdata that used to be preached to you.

I knew and agreed in my head that scripture teaches and corrects us, is eternal, inerrant, and has a motive—many functions. But my coronary heart used to be struggling to defend up with that fact.

Unless as of late.

My husband and I are in a tough season, the effect we acquire ourselves praying lots, Searching for God for path, records, and provision. Fortuitously, our sinful days now not customarily coincide, so we are going to likely be capable of grab turns boosting one yet any other’s faith in this dwelling. (In most cases, actually every other day!)

But someday we crashed on the same time. It used to be a ideal storm of hormones (mostly me), exhaustion (mostly him), and discouragement. We have been in extra than a funk. We have been in despair. I will’t even birth to describe the burden of the shadow inserting over us. Instances, obvious, but additionally war. We sat on our befriend patio, speaking a limited bit, and my husband at final said he just wished to sit down down befriend out for just a limited. Play the Wordle. Gaze reels and disconnect for a whereas. If truth be told, I did too, but…the phrases that came out of my mouth in its place have been “I mediate we are going to likely be capable of also just unexcited learn scriptures on hope.”

Hubby sighed but without extend opened his iPad and looked for verses on that topic. I sensed his discouragement. I felt it deep in my bones: ” Alright, but this doubtlessly received’t befriend.”

It rings a bell in my memory of Peter being informed to let down his safe again after fishing all night with zero outcomes. And Jesus watched as Peter obeyed, maybe with a radiant grin.

We caught a hundred “fish” that morning on the patio. My husband wasn’t two sentences into a verse from Isaiah when his issue cracked and his eyes welled. Mine have been rapid to apply. He accomplished that verse. I croaked out “more.” He saved studying. Verse after verse after verse on hope. As he learn, we are going to likely be capable of also feel the burden lifting from our weary shoulders. Could maybe maybe come all over the shadows taking flight. The light is pushing thru.

The atmosphere modified. Our hearts modified.

We could well breathe.

Peace invaded.

And that’s once I at final grasped the best that means of this excellent passage in Hebrews.

Ephesians 6:11-17 (ESV) Effect on all the armor of God, that probabilities are you’ll maybe maybe stand against the schemes of the devil. For we enact now not battle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this modern darkness, against the spiritual forces of corrupt within the pretty locations. Therefore, grab in all the armor of God, that probabilities are you’ll maybe maybe face as a lot as within the corrupt day, and having performed all, to face company.  Stand therefore, having mounted on the belt of fact, and having positioned on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes to your feet, having positioned on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. In all situations grab in the defend of faith, with which that you just can extinguish all the flaming darts of the corrupt one; and grab the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the discover of God…

I learn that verse on the sword lots growing up and as a younger grownup, thinking “frosty imagery, but…how? How will we grab within the sword of the Spirit?” Now I do know. To wield a physical sword, it be significant to opt it up. You would’t fight a physical combat when the sword is on the floor. The identical goes with God’s Phrase and our spiritual battles. You’ll need to bodily catch the Phrase and birth studying. Out loud, whenever you occur to can. (There’s just something about studying and hearing yourself order the Phrase on the same time that causes deeper engagement)

That day on the patio, and each day, our combat wasn’t against one yet any other. And even against the situations we confronted. It used to be against the enemy camp. My husband and I fought that day and received on myth of we faded the best weapon. By the grace of God, we chose to position down the Wordle and catch the Phrase…and it modified the forecast of our entire day. It modified every thing. Our situations could well stay the same now, but our hearts aren’t.

Our hope used to be restored, thru the Phrase—just enjoy Romans 15 promised.

Romans 15:4 (ESV) For whatever used to be written in historical days used to be written for our instruction, that thru endurance and thru the encouragement of the Scriptures shall we have hope.

My buddy is steady. “The Phrase works!” And it’s now not simplest a sword.

Proverbs 30:5 (ESV) Each and each discover of God proves accurate; he’s a defend to those who grab refuge in him.

Only God could well put collectively something that frosty. The identical weapon that lets us fight to victory is additionally the same instrument that protects us: our sword and our defend.

And here’s the effect I safe no doubt furious…

The Phrase is additionally a person.

John 1:1-5, 14 (ESV) At the birth used to be the Phrase, and the Phrase used to be with God, and the Phrase used to be God. He used to be first and foremost with God. All things have been made thru him, and without him used to be now not any thing made that used to be made. In him used to be lifestyles, and the lifestyles used to be the light of males. The light shines within the darkness, and the darkness has now not overcome it… And the Phrase grew to become flesh and dwelt among us, and we have now seen his glory, glory as of the most efficient Son from the Father, fleshy of grace and fact.

Jesus.

The Phrase IS Jesus. Now we have the Phrase in our phones thru our Bible app, the Phrase printed on pages on our bookshelf, and the Phrase in our very hearts, express in us. God geared up us with every thing we have now to fight the excellent fight. We’re without excuse.

So I distress you, dear reader, the following time you’re stumbling in darkness, or end up in want, oppressed, sad, or without hope, move to the Phrase. Lumber first. Lumber hasty. Lumber exhausting. Fight with the weapons that deliver victory.

And rep the combat.

Belief me (and my buddy)—The Phrase works.

Photo Credit: ©Getty Photography/FatCamera

Betsy St. Amant Haddox is the creator of over twenty romance novels and novellas. She resides in north Louisiana with her hubby, two daughters, an spectacular stash of coffee mugs, and one furry Schnauzer-toddler. Betsy has a B.A. in Communications and a deep-rooted ardour for seeing females restored to fact. When she’s now not composing her subsequent guide or making an strive to point to unicorns are true, Betsy could well just be chanced on somewhere within the neighborhood of an iced coffee. She is a usual contributor to iBelieve.com and offers creator instructing and editorial companies and products thru Storyside LLC.