Internal Struggles

We are all aware of issues or temptations that we "struggle with". Sometimes we focus on an issue, trying to overcome it. Or sometimes we choose not to focus on it. I would suggest that both of these choices could be the right choice. And they could also, both, be the wrong choice.

Consider the "fight, flight, or freeze" instinct when we face something fearful. If armed men forcefully enter our home, depending on our level of fear, and level of confidence, we may choose to fight. Or we may perceive that we are powerless and our best defense, in that moment, would be to submit, "freeze", or run away.

Similarly, with struggles & temptations, are we choosing to face, or not face, an issue within ourselves? Is the choice to "fight, flight, or freeze", due to fear? Or are we actually making our choice out of faith?

Faith comes by hearing God's current, spoken, living, word to you. His word and revelation to you that create a faith, a confident strength, in you for that specific scenario.

It may be worth asking ourselves these questions. Then introspecting. Because, "in fear", we will never have authority. We cannot win. If we don't have the plan, the faith, God’s instruction of how, to face or not face each individual enemy, then we may not see victory.

"Without faith no one can please God." Also, "Anything not done in Faith, is Sin." (Sin = fear, weak, useless. Use each of those words to fill in, replacing "sin".)

When we sense temptations, issues, like feeling alone, unhealthy anger, temptations of unhealthy sexual acts, or whatever flavor of temptation haunts us, what is our instinctive response? Do we try to stand against it? Or do we just hide it, then, later try to keep it out of mind, hiding it from ourselves as well?

If we try and stand against it, "resisting it", but resisting in fear of being overcome, then our battle will be fought in our own strength. And it will only be a matter of time that we will fail. We will find ourselves saying, like Job said, "what I feared has come upon me."

If we choose to not focus or think about the issue, why did we make that choice? Is it due to the fear of admitting the issue, or fear of being found out? If so then, again, this battle is only being prolonged for another day. And it's only a matter of time until, in fear, we will be overtaken, or chased back "out of the land".

Perhaps we need to look deeper. Under the strong feelings or temptations that we feel and recognize on the surface ("the front lines"). If we look deeper, underneath what "feels" like the struggle, we might notice we are afraid.

If we feel pulled, lured, into a specific temptation, does feeling or sensing the temptation cause us anxiety? Does the feeling of "our weakness" also cause an underlying "fear"? Fear that we will "mess up"? Are we bothered, disappointed, (downcast), worried, that we even have the struggle? Are we experiencing some type of guilt or sadness, overwhelmed in recognizing, that we even have the issue in the first place?

Let's ask God for some insight, for His wisdom. Ask God, what is the true enemy, the root, and core of the enemies tactic. If we need wisdom, ask God, who gives generously. God can show us who, and what, is the actual "underground" enemy.

"My children fail because of a lack of knowing". Once we know, in His wisdom, who or what the actual enemy is, God can then give us wise guidance on how to stand against that enemy. We need to “know” the actual enemy we should be fighting. As well as “know” who we are and “know” how God wants us to fight, or not fight, that enemy. (In some battles God’s word was, “As for you, be still and watch. I will fight this battle for you.”)

Like Joshua and God's people, as they entered the promised land. They had to get insight and wisdom, from God, about each individual nation. Then God's specific tactic for the take over. (Ex: Jericho, the amalekites, the Hittites…)

God wants us to conquer and inhabit every area of the land. The land within us. In every area of our mind, our desires, our soul and our emotions. He is with us. He will "drive out the enemy before us. But slowly. Little by little. Or else the wild animals in the land will overtake us".

If we ask, God will give us each the specific insight, wisdom, and plan that we need. Most likely it's something creative that we haven't yet thought of. Or extremely simple, but contradictory to our logic.

-------

Lately I've been entertaining the idea that the promised land is our mind and emotions. The different nation's of the land are different areas in our mind and emotions. Some areas have already been conquered and inhabited by us. With God's peace, love, and His kingdom. While some areas are still inhabited by enemies and giants.

If we see the enemy, or giants, in certain areas and we, in fear, say "we are too small, we are like insects to them." Then we have already lost that battle. In this case God will wait with us. Wander with us. Until we have the faith to even consider going into that area.

-------

I'm going to share a recent experience that I believe is a decent analogy for this topic. You can let God interpret it for you.

Over the years, as a cop, I had different experiences with violent and aggressive dogs. Some of the most traumatic, fear inducing, situations were when we had to shoot the dogs. The worst was when 4 pitbulls killed a man, and nearly killed his mom.

Several weeks ago I visited one of my brothers at his home. It was my first time ever being on his property. During this first visit, as well as my second attempted visit, his dog was very aggressive toward me.

My brother, and his boys, knew the dog well. They had no fear that it'd actually bite me. But they couldn't seem to get it to calm down. Which was sad and frustrating to us all. No matter what any of them did to prevent or detour the dog, it seemed the dog and I had enmity between us.

While attempting to sit and visit with my brother, the dog was constantly circling me. Growling and barking at me. No matter how nice I tried to be. The actions, sight, and sounds, of the dog made me believe I was going to get bit.

For a few weeks I believed I wouldn't ever be able to go back and visit my brothers home. I believed I was in danger and was certain that I'd be bit . So I stayed away from his family, that I love, because of my fear of an enemy. The fear, my legitimate concern, of being attacked or bit, kept me away.

Fear had caused me to already be defeated. The fear of possibly being attacked or injured kept me away from a land, a property, and people, that I had legal rights and permission to access.

At the time, I believed "the dog" was the problem. "It" was my enemy. And the “enemy” was the reason why I couldn't go see my brother. Because I thought the dog was the main enemy, I was powerless. And I didn't have the courage to go there unless someone else had removed this dog for me.

Then, God showed me something. He showed me what the actual enemy was. And how I could overcome it. God showed me that if I would remain in confident peace, and if I went and sat on the ground the dog would feel less threatened.

I debated the logic and the risk of this idea. I thought of the anxiety I would have while sitting there. And I imagined the dog coming up to me and biting me anyways.

God said, "So? So what if it does?" It has no authority over you. And even if it bites you, it's just a bite. Remain calm, remain in peace and do not give in to fear. If you can remain in love and peace it will drive out the fear in that animal. Even if it did bite you, while being bit, just sit in peace. Don't fear. The dog will sense it has no need to fear you. And no need to be your enemy.

So, recently, that's what I did. I was surprised to notice, when I got near the dog and sat down, that it actually was more afraid of me than I was of it. It took several minutes but I stayed calm refusing to get up and leave, in fear. The dog became more and more calm. Slowly, the dog barked much less and came closer toward me.

The “enemy”, the dog, who I believed was "the enemy" and the reason why I couldn't be on that land, no longer existed. The dog was still there, but the enemy wasn't. I had previously believed there was no way I would be able to peacefully walk on that land. My prior belief was, the only way I'll be able to "dwell", to be, on that land is if the dog is killed or taken away.

Within an hour the dog had transformed. From a violent enemy, to a friend who wanted to play. For the remainder of the day, whenever the dog was near me, it was gentle and friendly. It would often choose to be near me and even come to lay down at my feet.

I had overcome the enemy. The enemy wasn't the dog. It was the fear.

Sometimes the enemy tries to trip us up with temptation. We see the temptation as the attack. But in reality, it's our fear of that temptation that gives it power. It's fear, of anything, that causes us to "come under it". When we become afraid that we are being, "feeling", tempted, It's the fear that is the actual problem. I believe it's our fears that are the true source of a weakness. More than the temptation we see and feel on the surface, is the fear behind the temptation.

Walk with God through your internal struggles. Go, like Joshua and Caleb, and spy out the different lands within your mind and soul. The lands where giants may still be living. Go spy the lands. Search the lands within yourself, in His faith, peace and His love.

Ask God to help you to see the”real” enemy. Not the one the enemy wants you to focus on, but the one God says is there. Likewise, ask God to help you see yourself as He sees you. Then receive the plan, and the faith, for how God is telling you to overtake that land.

Like Joshua and Caleb we can know, in confidence, we can overtake any enemy, any land. But only in the way and timing that He says. It’s written, “I can do all things [which He has called me to do] through Him who strengthens and empowers me…” When we have His perspective, insight, wisdom, and His plan, His call, “The Lord will give them into our hands.” And, “He will drive them out before us.”