Tip of My Iceberg

Photo courtesy of British Library on Unsplash

According to the Council on Foreign Relation’s Global Conflict Tracker, there are currently 27 areas of combat around the world. People fighting people.

There are many reasons wars are fought–none are helpful for all involved. The desire for power and control, wanting to gain landmass by expanding borders, not valuing the people being fought against–economic, political, and religious reasons.

Most are not fought for security or material gain.

Wars are part of life. The United States of America started its fight for independence with the American Revolutionary War. We know what it’s like to fight for what we believe in–freedom, a voice, and a dream.

Veterans’ Day is a celebration of all who have served in the military in our country, a national thank-you for the commitment of these men and women who have stood in the face of danger or have worked behind the scenes for the war effort to supply the training, inspiration, and raw materials needed for battle. People who have taken responsibility to stand for all that our country means, willing to sacrifice themselves for a greater cause, deserve our thanks and deepest gratitude.

We’ve fought conflicts of aggression between our own people and conflicts brought to us by others. We’ve supported others in their fight for democracy and freedom, standing with them in their yearning for hope and life. In all of them, we’ve lost good people, those whose lives were cut short by battles they chose to be part of, and by the values they chose to fight for.

Our gratitude should be given freely, and our appreciation should be shown openly.

What many don’t realize is that we each fight a battle each day that is often so insidious we don’t recognize it happening. It’s a spiritual battle, fighting against the lies of the enemy of our souls, against the darkness of despair and disruption, against the evil taunting of temptations.

Everyone becomes weary of this battle.

God is our Victor. He is the One who supports us through the hard and dark times of life, giving us His courage, wisdom, and power to deal with the challenges we face daily. If we are His, He is for us–and that victory can’t be taken from us.

“And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow–not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below–indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:38-39

Those who have served in our military deserve to be celebrated for their efforts. Those men and women have served our country with bravery, fortitude, and commitment.

In remembering those who have fought on our behalf, remember how God continues to fight for us in our everyday battles.

“If God is for us, who can ever be against us?” Romans 8:31b

We need to pick our own battles wisely.

Don’t neglect to choose God to fight with you.