Thanksgiving is rapidly approaching here in the US, tomorrow in fact! It’s the time of year that people post what they are thankful for. And like many people, I am thankful for a lot of things! But last week I received an email that showed me an unexpected angle on something I didn’t realize I am so very thankful for.
This email came from a site called the Elijah List, and their emails contain both prophetic words and words of encouragement. Nate Johnston is the author of this particular post, where I found encouragement in an unexpected way. (You can read the full post here.)
He wrote about people he saw in a vision that were clearing paths into unclaimed territory, and these people had big targets painted on their backs. They were under attack from the enemy’s arrows, feeling discouraged and disheartened. They were facing opposition.
We know that in Ephesians 6, where Paul describes the full armor of God, the shield of faith is for us to use to deflect the flaming arrows of the evil one. As Christians, we will encounter opposition. When, where, and how may vary, but it will happen.
But in his word, Nate Johnston flipped the script and reminded me about another thing when it comes to arrows and opposition: opposition is what bends the bow.
Opposition, when you are building and forging something new, is not only expected, but it’s actually part of the process. Let me say that again: Pioneers, opposition is part of the process. God doesn’t orchestrate it. He doesn’t design it. He doesn’t send it, but He will use it for your benefit and for your favor, if you allow Him to do so…God uses the things that the enemy sends against you to bless you. It is the pulling back of the bow.
Nate Johnston
We know crushing and pressing. I talked about that last week in my post about New Wine.
Pulling and stretching is also a way that God changes us and prepares us for what will come. While hard things are inevitable, God wants to flip the script and re-frame our thoughts.
Do not be afraid of those arrows for right now. The Lord is plucking them out of your back, and He’s placing them in your quiver for war. He’s removing the trauma–the wounds that have been sustained by you–healing you, and putting those arrows in your hands (the same ones that wounded you) as arrows sent to be placed in your bow to hit the mark.
Nate Johnston
Mind blown. What a picture!
People often talk about how God is going to work things out for our good (Romans 8:28), but I’ve never seen such a picture of flipping the script in action. God has promised us that He will protect us:
‘No weapon formed against you will prevail, and you will refute every tongue that accuses you. This is the heritage of the the servants of the LORD, and this is their vindication from me,’ declares the LORD.
Isaiah 54:17
I am so grateful to be able to see how God is redeeming what has been damaged in my life and using it to equip me for what I’m doing next. These are not things you realize until you’re suddenly in a situation and you look down at the arrow in your hands that you pulled from the quiver and it’s something that once damaged you, except now you see that God’s workmanship has strengthened the shaft and etched gold into the cracks to make it not only whole and usable but also beautiful.
While you may only realize it “suddenly,” God has been at work the whole time. He works best behind the scenes, shaping and redeeming, until that “suddenly” moment where you are faced with something that once scarred you and you realize instead of pain, you actually can use that experience to light the way for either yourself or someone else.
As I meditated on this truth, the Holy Spirit guided me to several verses that add to this idea:
- 2 Samuel 22:35: “He trains my hands for battle; my arms can bend a bow of bronze.”
- Isaiah 61: 3: “…and provide for those who grieve in Zion–to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning…”
- Ecclesiastes 3:11: “He has made everything beautiful in its time.”
- Psalm 23:5: “You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.”
I am grateful that He strengthens my arms to bend the bow, and that He restores what has attacked me and places it in my hands to use in the fight. And I am thankful for every good and perfect gift that comes from above (James 1:17), as He is the Giver of all good things.
This Thanksgiving, it is perfectly fine to be thankful for good food, family, friends, and football. But don’t be afraid in the quiet moments to dig a little deeper and see what other things might “suddenly” be in your hands as a gift from your loving Father. Then spend some time expressing your gratitude to God.
Blessings and Happy Thanksgiving,
~Lynne
PS–this may be a really great song to use as a soundtrack to worship God in gratitude:
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