The Fiery Darts

Designed to detonate our faith

Designed to detonate our faith, our enemy’s fiery darts are lies from the pit of hell. They’re crafted with malice. They can be effective, but they need not be. With faith in God’s promises, they will bounce harmlessly off our shields of faith. Raise yours. Be the warrior God is making of you, resist the crafty one, and God will quench his flaming arrows.

What do your fiery darts look like? Mine are doubts about God’s love for me, intrusive thoughts, and temptations to flash my pride, anger and selfishness. What trips you up, and how does our enemy exploit your weaknesses?

More importantly, what counters his lies and is essential for our resistance?

“Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world.” (I Peter 5:8-9 ESV)

Just yesterday, I spent more than hour on hold with three different customer service representatives for a large communications company. I was trying to help my mom by managing her account with them. My emotions were high, and I was getting asked the same questions. Because the world’s wolves seek to steal from our loved ones, companies fill security gaps with one-size-fits-all measures that tend to protect them more than their customers. We all have to rely on verification texts to thwart scammers.

All I wanted was for them to switch the verification text to my cell phone because my mom is unable to find the ones they send her. They wanted me to change my cell to their carrier, but their service doesn’t work in my little Sierra Nevada hamlet. It’s not anyone’s fault. It’s just a gap. I raised my voice a few times and apologized. Toward the end, I was so frustrated that I began talking about legal measures. The third person with whom I spoke, a supervisor, apologized. I apologized … again. When we we ended the call, he said something like, “Have a blessed day.”

I experienced instant conviction. A split second later, these lyrics played in my AirPods: “Let there be gentleness and self-control, bear your fruit in my life, Oh, Lord …” The fiery dart, powered by pride and tipped with selfishness and anger, pierced me. I failed to raise my shield of faith. It was on the ground somewhere, discarded, cast off, forgotten. I repented. God forgave me. The enemy of our souls was routed and fled. He won the battle, but he will surely lose the war. God promises it. Next time will be different, I tell myself.

This morning, I lost a smaller battle. When I say lost, I didn’t raise my voice (as much) but I was prickly at times when the representative of another big company seemed unsure of herself while repeating essential information I’d given her. I wanted to verify the details of an order for my mom. I did better this time, but I need to raise my shield higher and more quickly. Next time, I will. When is your next time?

Our enemy’s gunning for us. Even now he’s strategizing and forming little darts. As always, they’re tipped with evil and malice. He’s clever and ruthless. What weakness will he exploit in you? Are you ready?

Arm yourself with your sword—the Word of God. Rely on his proven promises. Strengthen yourself with spiritual discipline, shield yourself with the impenetrable faith that comes from trusting in Almighty God. He is faithful; the devil is a liar. I’ll do the same, brothers and sisters. God protects his children from the lies and accusations and traps of the fiery enemy. The deceiver shoots at us; God shields us.

We will all go through things. Times of peace and strife, ease and difficulty. If you are his child, God will shape you with gentle pressure that sometimes feels overwhelming with heavy circumstances. But know this—the God of all grace will strengthen and uphold you and will deliver you in his time.

Peter goes on to exhort his readers with this promise: “And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. To him be the dominion forever and ever. Amen.” (I Peter 5:10-11 ESV)

Trust in the Lord. Resist the devil. Our God of grace will:

Restore you.

Confirm you.

Strengthen you.

Establish you.

Put on your armor, stand fast, be strong in the Lord and in the power of his might. Take joy in the fight.