Satan's Flaming Arrows and Our Shield of Faith

This past weekend had some ups and downs, but as the kids went off to school this morning I reflected on how God used special moments to reveal his work and plan. As houseparents, there are moments when we doubt our decisions - doubt our actions, motivations, and words. On Friday night, we had a blow-up with one of our kids. We both were left feeling stress and worry about what Saturday might hold. We reached out to our support network, but still felt very uneasy about what might unfold for the rest of the weekend.

The morning dawned and we received a supportive call which helped us firm up our plan for the day. This was good, but the most surprising moment was when each of us received a hand-written, heart-felt apology note from a child who had not shown us any remorse up until this point. My heart melted, my anger and frustration slipped away and I allowed myself to feel a glimmer of hope for what the weekend might now hold.

We continued on with Kaleb's first football scrimmage, watching him recover a fumble and cheering him on from the stands. Then I, with three of my teens including the aforementioned child, worked concessions until the end of the tournament. After the scrimmages were over and all the spectators exited, we worked side by side picking up all the litter people left near the field and under the stands. It was HOT - but it was reconciling.

We returned home and this child continued her work, this time alongside Alan at our new house on the hill. She didn't complain and she had accepted her consequences without argument. THIS WAS HUGE!!!

By Sunday, we were feeling better about the state of things in our home, but God wasn't done with me. In the evening, I met with one of my other teens to talk through her Bible Study lesson. (This is one of my favorite parts of houseparenting - one-on-one Bible studies while they move through "the process" of dating.) Her chapter was called the "Shield of Faith." The opening verse from Ephesians 6 referenced the flaming arrows of Satan. This hit me right between the eyes. Where had my Shield of Faith been Friday night? If I saw a glistening, burning arrow headed my direction would I just look at it and admire its beauty, leaving myself completely exposed or would I put up a shield for protection? Of course, I would run, hide, or lift my shield! Satan had attacked me with doubts, fears, anxiety, and I had not put up my shield. If I expect my faith from when I was 15, 21, or even 30 to protect me now - I am sadly unprepared. I need to continually strengthen my shield of faith; God has renewed my desire to seek him and I will resist the Devil and his schemes.

Blessings,
~Rachel