“They will be like mighty warriors…”
What does acceptance have to do with fighting?
In my battle with depression, after I had utilized the first battle tactic, “The Ask,” God moved my heart to accept that I was depressed. While on the surface, admittance may sound like I was giving into depression, surrendering, or admitting defeat. Acceptance was the catalyst that moved me out of my insanity loop.
The dictionary definition of acceptance is “the action of consenting to receive or undertake something offered.” Acceptance ushers in truth, and with truth, freedom follows. I had been resisting the fact I might be depressed, and my lack of acceptance is what held me captive.
When truth pulled out into the open, the condition of my mental health, I could move toward healing rather than remain stuck and allow room to spiral down further. I sought help from a counselor and psychiatrist. There were habits I needed to change and new ones I needed to begin. Truth became a platform for healing.
Two promises from God are repeated three times in Zechariah 10. There are other promises in chapter 10, but the repetition of these particular promises points us to their importance and our role in hearing them.
For the LORD of Heaven’s Armies has arrived to look after Judah, his flock. He will make them strong and glorious, like a proud warhorse in battle…They will be like mighty warriors in battle, trampling their enemies in the mud under their feet. Since the LORD is with them as they fight, they will overthrow even the enemy’s horsemen… The people of Israel will become like mighty warriors, and their hearts will be made happy as if by wine. Their children, too, will see it and be glad; their hearts will rejoice in the Lord (Zechariah 10:3, 5, 7, NLT, bold added).
The first trifecta promise is God will make us like warriors in battle.
Asking God is our first battle tactic and accepting that He will make us like mighty warriors is the second tactic. We are mistaken if we hoped that nothing would be required on our part.
ACCEPTANCE
Acceptance changes perspective. Our time and energy move away from resisting or denying our situation to facing our giants like a warrior, a “mighty” warrior, to be exact. Truth opens our eyes to step into our warrior shoes and continue “The Ask” by seeking the wisdom of our Commander and Chief for our next move.
The second promise is repeated three times and works in tandem with the first promise. The second promise is:
- God will make us strong and glorious. (Verse 3)
- God will strengthen us. (Verse 6)
- By God’s power, He will make us strong. (Verse 12)
God promises to empower and equip us to fight. Verse 5 partly reveals how this will happen. “Since the LORD is with them as they fight, they will overthrow even the enemy’s horsemen.” (Verse 5)
Since God is with us as we fight, we will be victorious. As a result of God being with us, the end of verse five reveals a superpower He will give.
In ancient battles, only wealthy armies had horse riders. They would use them to blindside their opponent. While the foot soldiers drew out the other army, the horsemen would attack from the side.
The cancer diagnosis, divorce papers, sudden financial crisis, and the news we refuse to believe are like the attack from the horsemen which blindsight us. The superpower is that God will be with us and empower us to overthrow “even the enemy’s horsemen.”
We approach the battle differently when we accept that God will make us like mighty warriors and gives us the strength to step into our warrior shoes. We understand that:
- God trains us for battle. (Psalm 144:1-2)
- God makes us strong. (Isaiah 41:10)
- We need to dress like a warrior. (Ephesians 6:10-18)
- We need not be caught off guard by the fiery trials that come our way. (1 Peter 4:12)
- We need to remember we are on the winning side. (Romans 16:20)
- And we undeniably need to remember that when the enemy comes from out of nowhere, God is still with us, and He will give us the power to overthrow even when we are blind-sighted. (Zechariah 10:5)
The battle is the LORD’s and He is with us as we fight. We move closer to the victory we desire when we accept the truth that God will make us into tough mighty warriors.
I pray that where you have been resistant, you will move toward the truth of your situation. That you will invoke the LORD of Heaven’s armies and step into the shoes of the confident mighty warrior God is making you to be. May God bless you with peace and victory in all the places you need it most. So be it, in Jesus’ name.
Meditate: God is my strength
Reflect: Are there any areas you are resisting rather than accepting? If so, what are they, and how can you move toward the truth? How would your perspective change if you view your situation as a confident mighty warrior? What steps do you need to take to armor up?
Rooted: Zechariah 10; Psalm 144; Ephesians 6:10-18; Ruth
FIGHT LIKE A GIRL – Behind the Title. The series is a four-part series based on Zechariah 10. These verses played a significant role in my fight against depression. I share with you the lessons or fighting tactics learned in the blog. In the corresponding podcast, Amy and I will talk about a woman in the Bible who utilized the same tactic. Then, a bonus corresponding podcast episode will be released each week where Amy and I talk with a guest woman who shares their story and how the fighting tactic of the week was beneficial in her life.
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