The Real Struggle
READ
Ever been in the middle of an argument, maybe with a spouse, a coworker, or a family member, and halfway through realized the person across from you wasn't really the problem? Maybe you were both exhausted, or stressed about something else entirely, and the fight was just where it all spilled out. Paul is wrapping up his letter to the Ephesians, and he makes a similar point on a much bigger scale.
Read Ephesians 6:10–13 and notice where he says the real struggle is, and where he says our strength comes from.
10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12 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. 13 Therefore put on the full armor of God,so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.
REFLECT
"Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power." Pay attention to those last few words. Paul doesn't say "be strong," as if he's handing you a pep talk and wishing you luck. He says be strong in the Lord. The strength isn't something you dig up from inside yourself. It's borrowed, in the best possible way, from Someone who has plenty to spare.
That matters, because Paul is about to describe something that can sound intimidating: a struggle "against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil." Not everything hard in life is spiritual warfare, and it's worth being careful not to see a demon behind every bad Monday. But Paul is clear that there's more going on beneath the surface of things than we can see, forces that work against the good God is doing, and that we aren't meant to face them on our own.
Here's the part that might be most helpful: "Our struggle is not against flesh and blood." Think about how much of our energy goes into treating people as the enemy. The coworker who undermines us. The relative who always knows how to push our buttons. The person on the other side of an argument online. Paul gently redirects us. The people frustrating you are not your real opponent. They're people, probably dealing with their own battles, and some of what's pulling at you both is bigger than either of you. That doesn't excuse hurtful behavior, but it can change how we respond to it. It's a lot easier to be patient with someone when you stop seeing them as the villain.
Paul also mentions "the devil's schemes." A scheme isn't a head-on attack. It's quieter. A little discouragement, a nudge toward isolation, a half-truth that sounds reasonable, the thought that you've messed up too badly to bother. Often the most effective schemes don't feel like attacks at all. They feel like normal thoughts.
So what's Paul's advice? Notice the verb he keeps using: stand. "Put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand." Not charge. Not conquer. Stand. The goal isn't to win every fight with your own cleverness or willpower. It's to stay put in what God has already given you, to keep your footing when things push on you.
There's real relief in that. You don't have to be strong enough. You don't have to see every scheme coming. You just have to stay close to the One who is, and stand where He has already placed you. On the days when things feel heavy, standing may be all you can do, and Paul says that's not a small thing. It's exactly what this moment calls for.
RESPOND
Take a moment to process what God might be leading you to do in light of what you read.
Is there someone you've been treating as the enemy lately? How might it change things to remember they're not your real opponent?
What are the quiet "schemes" you notice most in your own life, like discouragement, isolation, or the sense that you're not enough?
What would it look like this week to draw on God's strength rather than trying to push through on your own?
REST
Take a moment to rest in God’s presence and consider one thing you can take away from your time reading, then close your devotional experience by praying:
God, thank You that we don't have to face the hard things on our own strength. Forgive us for the times we've fought people instead of seeing what's really going on, or tried to carry everything by ourselves. Help us be strong in You and not in our own effort. Teach us to stand firm in what You've given us, especially on the heavy days. Remind us that we're never standing alone. Amen.