There was only an hour remaining before my biggest concert of the year and I was beyond nervous. My friend Lisa and I were sitting in my living room, and I was just trying to stay calm when I realized that something was missing from my time of preparation; the reason I felt out of sorts was due to the fact that I hadn’t spent enough time with God that day. I had run from one stressor to the next without pausing to focus on the One who had given me my gift to sing in the first place.
So I turned to my computer, desperate to find a quick devotional online— something to anchor me before the craziness of sound check and the performance came upon me. I accessed Google, and I quickly found a website that looked like it had just the kind of devotional I was looking for. I clicked on the link, and almost instantly, several windows opened on my screen. I now know that this was a form of a virus hijacking— a program that suddenly opens onscreen, mimicking a virus protection program. I knew right away that it was a virus, and I panicked. I tried to close the many windows that opened, but they were locked in place. I yelled at the computer and fought back tears, somehow knowing that this virus was a bad one and that my computer might very well be affected beyond repair.
You might be sitting there reading this thinking, “What in the world is the big deal? It was just a computer; what about your concert? Isn’t that more important?” Well, you’re right; I overreacted. But the fact is, I was distracted from the all-important evening ahead, and suddenly, all I wanted to do was make sure my computer survived the attack of the virus. I did everything on that computer including my writing and music. I was afraid I would lose everything.
I was glad Lisa was there at that time. She pulled me aside and managed to calm me down. We prayed together then, and even though I was upset, I set aside the issue and resolved to focus on the task at hand: my concert. The evening went extremely well, and in the end, God took control of the situation and came out the victor. I was able to scan my computer with a new virus protection program and all traces of the virus were soon eliminated.
Since that day, I have come to realize that two things could be true of what took place; either it was a matter of coincidence that the virus showed up moments before my concert, or Satan somehow played a role in pulling me away from my service to the Lord. Either way, I felt like I was fighting a battle. I knew that God was on my side, but in the moment, I was weak and vulnerable to the attack.
Since sin entered the world in the Garden of Eden, every one of us has come under attack at one point or another. Sometimes, we witness the daily stressors that come and go from our lives; for me lately, it has been the computer crashing, guitar strings breaking, a car breaking down at the most inconvenient of times, and the reality of flawed relationships. Perhaps all of these factors are just coincidences in the scheme of things, but I do believe that there is indeed a battle between good and evil in this world. Perhaps God intervenes and protects us from greater evil, but sometimes we have no choice but to endure what the devil throws our way. In the end, our faith is tested and we emerge from the conflict stronger and rooted more firmly in Christ.
Ephesians 6:11-13 states: “Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For 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.” The battle is real and as long as we live on this earth, we will not be able to escape it.
A song by Chris August comes to mind when he says, “The world will try to battle for my heart but the war is already won.” And it’s so true! Christ delivered us from the power of the devil when He came to die for our sins and take the shame upon Himself. Jesus Himself was familiar with the human struggle here on earth and the trials that would be sure to enter our lives. John 16:33 reminds us that in this world we will have trouble, but we must take heart because He has overcome the world. He has delivered us, and we need to claim that victory.
So although the struggle is very real and the task to fend off evil can often be exhausting, we have a greater reward and a promise to cling to that can never be shaken. So when you’re discouraged, under attack, and feeling like the world is against you, take heart, because Christ has overcome for you and for me. Hang in there, for victory has come!
cassiecontemplates 