Standing against the Naysayers

David said to Saul, "Let no one lose heart on account of this Philistine; your servant will go and fight him." ~I Samuel 17:32

Have you ever had to stand against the crowd? When we must stand up for ourselves, it can be a tough battle. However, have you ever been called by God to stand firm for someone else? What happens when you must stand firm in the face of even well-meaning naysayers and act as an armor bearer for someone else?

This was a question I felt posed in my spirit on my drive home tonight. As I thought about it, I didn’t even know if it made any sense. You see, I wasn’t actually sure what an armor bearer did in biblical times. I had to do a little research. I found that armor-bearers:

• Were chosen for their bravery and loyalty
• Did “bear” the armor for the king, but also did much more—They were essentially the king’s “right-hand-man”
• Required a deep sense of respect for the leader
• Instinctively understood the leader’s thoughts and heart
• Were willing to sacrifice for the leader
• Served in the role to refresh, assist, and protect the leader
• Aided the leader in combat (physical, emotional, mental, or spiritual)
• Protected and defended the leader against false accusations
• Kept watch while the leader would rest
• Were to “stand in the gap”

Suddenly it hit me. I had recognized quite some time ago that I had been called to be a “watchman on the wall” for a particular person. I knew I was called to stand in the gap for them, and I have been actively interceding in prayer on their behalf for quite some time. But tonight I realized—the armor-bearer serves in all of these capacities.

People may select their own armor-bearers, just like Saul chose David. However, there are times when God selects armor-bearers for individuals when they don’t know to select one for themselves. When you are called by God, you are equipped by God. As I ticked down the list of the qualities of an armor-bearer I realized two things. 1) I have been able to fulfill these roles against all logic or circumstance, and have been essentially unable to waiver in these roles, even when it would have been easier to fold under the pressure, and 2) I recognize that there is no way I could have the capacity to have been able to sustain this on my own. It is only through God that I have been able to sustain and keep any level of peace and joy through all of the difficulty.

During the times when I take my eyes off of what God has placed on my heart, I wonder if I actually heard and understood Him. It’s just the honest truth. What’s on my heart doesn’t make logical sense. It’s orderly….but it doesn’t add up in our typical finite human minds. When I look at all of these things together, and acknowledge my own humanity in the midst of it all—I know and truly recognize that for me to be in the position I am is solely through divine intervention. I don’t have an infinite amount of love, patience, peace, joy, goodness, kindness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control—nor are they able to be offered on an unconditional basis on my own.

I must continue to trust and be willing to surrender to the One that is my source. When I empty myself, and allow my God to fill me with His abundance…that’s when everything flows. It’s only through that filling that I will be able to continue in my role as an armor-bearer. I made the vow to my friend and to my God….and my God is the One that will continue to equip me for the journey.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. ~Galatians 5:22-23