This has become a new family favorite phrase since my daughter shared a story about some girls she overheard at school. One of the girls was complaining to the other who responded, "Listen, you can't be diabetic and southern?? I'm really going to need you to pick your struggle here..one or the other, we can't do both." Though I cannot explain to you what complication arises from being diabetic and southern at the same time, it has not stopped our laughter at this story.
This expression is being woven into our home life where we consistently tell each other, "Pick your struggle!" Caleb, you can't be hurt and obnoxious, pick your struggle; Kate you can't be loud and tired, pick your struggle; Brian you can't be negative and annoying, pick your struggle! One at a time people!
As much as this has made us laugh out loud....the truth of this statement has started to resonate in me this week.
What will I choose?
That depends on what I see because every struggle has a face value and a hidden value. Which arena do I want to fight in?
I can fight each new circumstance as it pops up at face value, or I can take the fight to hidden realms and conquer my thoughts and attitudes about the situation.
I can react and choose stress and manipulation, or I can put that energy into growth.
We can't fight on both fronts, which one will we pick?
For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Ephesians 6:12 NIV
"...we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but... the unseen world" NLT
I always think it's my flesh and blood enemies tripping me up, but it's actually what I don't see that is so much more dangerous.
Every new day, oh who am I kidding, every new hour I have to choose:
Will I battle flesh and blood, or make waves in spiritual realms?
I can get tunnel vision and only see a circumstance's face value, or I can recognize that
frustration, anger, hurt, even annoyance all point to something larger than what is in front of me physically.
So today, will we choose to try and manipulate every struggle that comes along or ask God for better vision?
I want to stop fighting my battles on two fronts the physical and the spiritual. It's exhausting. When I choose the spiritual, the physical works out. So pick your struggle people, just be sure you choose the right one.
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