Many Christians experience emotions of despair and depression to varying degrees of intensity. They experience spiritual strain in a variety of ways.
Armor of God
We must put on the God-given armor that is detailed in Ephesians 6:14–17 in order to defend ourselves against this. In order “that [we] may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil,” we Christians need to understand that we require every single piece of armor listed here (Ephesians 6:11). We fight “against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this current darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places, and against the rulers” (Ephesians 6:12). That is not a fight against physical enemies, but rather against unseen spiritual entities that are antagonistic to everything associated with God, including His Word, His purposes, and His people.
The evil day
In order “to be able to withstand in the evil day,” Paul exhorts us to put on all of the armor (Ephesians 6:13). Every Christian goes through bad days, trying times, or stressful times. We shall look more closely at three of the six components of God’s armor since they deal with such days and times of hopelessness and depression:
The breastplate of righteousness
The breastplate of righteousness, which guards the heart, an important organ. The main theme of this breastplate is the righteousness of God for everyone who believes in Jesus Christ (Romans 3:22), since it is said that “one believes and is justified from the heart” (Romans 10:10). This righteousness is the result of faith and love rather than good deeds; it is “faith working through love” (Galatians 5:6).
The shield of faith
The shield that shields our entire being is faith. The shield that these passages speak about is a big oval shield that could entirely envelop a soldier. Knowing that we can always rely on God is what it means to use this shield of faith. Our faith is based on the conviction that He exists and that He is the source of our rest. Placing our faith in God signifies that we deeply respect and give priority to what His Word teaches about His love and His promises. This is more significant than our feelings, which are erratic and frequently obscure the truths found in God’s Word.
Redemption sets you in the hand of God
Our salvation is a reality. Redemption literally translates to “buying back.” We are set free from the shackles of sin and death by the priceless blood of Jesus. Psalm 107:2, which reads, “Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, whom He has redeemed from the hand of the enemy,” describes this truth. If your emotions are getting the better of you, keep in mind that God has control over you ever since you gave your life over to Jesus Christ and are no longer under the authority of the enemy.
Use your redemption as a shield
Despite our erratic feelings, we are entirely safe if we employ this fact of our salvation as a shield of trust. As a home built on a rock remains steady in a storm, so too will we remain stable if we love God and long [to fulfill His will] (Matthew 7:25). It is then evident to us that God will allow everything to work out for our good (Romans 8:28).
The helmet of salvation
Our thoughts and minds are the helmet of salvation that shields our heads. We clothe ourselves with “the hope of salvation” when we don this helmet. Because of our Lord Jesus Christ, God has not appointed us for wrath but for redemption (1 Thessalonians 5:8-9). “For we were saved in this hope” (Romans 8:24). Thus, hope follows faith in order. In the event that this hope is absent, we experience neither our salvation nor our redemption and instead become hopeless and unhappy.
Redirect your thinking through the Spirit
Our mind will be damaged and we will become overwhelmed by our problems and worries as soon as we remove this helmet. If this occurs, we must change the way we think and concentrate on the bright future that lies ahead of us. We need the Holy Spirit of God in order to accomplish it, as stated in Romans 15:13, “so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.”
Hold fast to the rock
In order “to hold fast to the hope set before us […] as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul,” we must wear this helmet of hope for salvation (Hebrews 6:18-19). The everlasting rock has our anchor fastened to it. This anchor, our hope of salvation, provides security for all of eternity in addition to this life.
Use what God offers you
God provides us with a breastplate, shield, and helmet as protection. Let’s employ them each time the enemy targets our feelings and thoughts. Then, by His Spirit, we shall gradually but certainly prevail.
