The Warrior Child

She was a timid girl of only eleven years of age. "Bashful" and "shy" fail in their explanation for her timidity was founded on something deeper than societal phobias or pre-teen awkwardness. Unable to truly see herself for who she was, she began to doubt her worth because she was blinded from the truth. Although she knew her Creator and found value in everything He has made, her own value eluded her. Saddened by her lack of value, strength, talent, and beauty, she stumbled through life from one struggle to another never finding happiness or peace.

For those looking on, it was a great mystery because it was clear that she was special. Her beauty went beyond the superficial beauty that is so prevalent in her society because it was not only skin deep. Her heart of compassion, love for others, and faith in her Creator made her stand out from the crowd with incomparable beauty.

Clearly different from her peers, she was anything but typical and yet she was unable to understand what that meant for her. Because she loves her Creator and has dedicated her life to Him, she has enemies. These are not the typical schoolmate bullies, but a more sinister, powerful force of evil that seeks to steal her joy, kill her hope, and destroy her soul. Her enemies want her to live a defeated life so that she will walk away from Her Creator blaming Him for all of the pain in her life.

They want her soul, even at eleven years of age, and they have already carefully crafted a plan of attack. In fact, their attack began long ago, unbeknownst to her. Her mother, understanding the power of the word of God, began to read the Bible to her and to pray with her every night. Discussions began to unfold between the two about the enemies of God and how they attack. She began to be trained to watch out for the enemy attacks and to quieten her heart to listen for the voice of her Creator who would strengthen and protect her. His voice is gentle and kind, always speaking truth. He never lies, unlike her enemies.

She learned that lies are their main weapon of attack. Her mother could only pray that God would help her daughter learn to know the difference between the truth of God and the lies of the enemy. She was instructed to fight the lies with truth for truth always wins.

Little did she know that her turn to fight was rapidly approaching.  As she began to learn how to listen for the voice of her Creator, she was delighted to be able to hear Him for herself. Her heart was encouraged to know that He loved her, wanted to communicate with her, and wanted her to communicate with Him. This, however, enraged her enemies and they launched a devastating assault on her mind, will, and emotions.

They told her she was nothing and that she would never amount to anything. They lied and said she would never succeed at anything and would never have value in this life. On and on, the lies continued until she crumbled under the weight of them and burst into horrific tears of pain and fear. Unable to bear the burden alone, she shared these thoughts with her mother. Then suddenly, as if she was struck with a bolt of lightening, she shuddered and stared blankly as she began to process what had just been revealed to her. Astonished, she looked up at her mother and said, "Mommy! I'm being lied to!"

This new found awareness did not remove the sting of the lies, but provided a new lens through which she began to look at them. Uncertain of what to do or how to fight, she fell into mother's arms, crying on her shoulder. Her mother simply took that moment to silently pray and ask God for wisdom and strength.

With a slight giggle, her daughter pulled away and said, "Well, that was weird." She began to explain to her mother how she, too, began to pray while they were hugging and somewhere deep inside she felt like she stood up straight and tall, looked her enemy in the face, and shouted, "Get out of my head!" With another giggle, she explained how she then proceeded to "tattle" on her enemies to God by saying, "God, they are telling me lies! Would you please make them go away?"

In that instant, the lies were gone, the pain was gone, and the tears dried up. Her Creator heard her cries and rushed to her rescue causing her enemies to flee like the cowards they are. He blessed her with the peace that passes all understanding and a happiness and joy she couldn't explain. She could rest safely in His arms and, for the first time in her life, she knew it.

What's more, she realized that her enemies told her those things because she does have value, she is strong, she is special, and God has big plans for her. She also realized that she will never be alone because all she has to do is cry out to God and He will rush to her side. She can do all things because of the strength and power He gives to her.

In that moment, she realized that she was no longer defeated, but that she is now a warrior for the King of Kings! This warrior child now knows her value and strength and walks in the truth of who she is. She is a daughter of the Lord of Heavens Armies and woe be unto any enemy that dares to attack her again.

 ** Dedicated with love to my precious Charis