In the Presence of My Enemies

We live in a world where our friends and our enemies may not be physically seen.  Though people help or oppose us, Paul tells us that our warfare is spiritual (Eph 6:12).  We pray to the Lord who holds all things in His hands, but do not know how each event will turn out until we win, or lose our battles.

My family is a Christian family, and I have enjoyed good relationships with each member.  Last year I remember thanking the Lord for the love we all shared amongst each other. Our mother is elderly and my good husband decided to add onto our home so that she could come live with us.  There couldn’t have been more joy in my heart than when I saw the work begin and some of my family helped with the labor. We were tight on cash and man-power so my daily prayer was for helpers, and that God would bless our finances.

As the work progressed we were blessed to have some free help from friends and family.  The work was slow, but it was all good.  There were picnics during lunch and much well-wishing between those that worked.  But I think this happy picture caused our enemy to become jealous, for he does not have love where he reigns.

This year a few family members became critical of my husband’s work on the house, until the one that worked closest to my husband finally pronounced that the work would never be done on time. He thought we were foolishly wasting our money and had other negative things to say.  Though he had worked by my husband’s side, it turned out he was not the friend we had thought.  I was only thankful that my husband was not at home when these things were said.

The sour attitudes of these family members were a manifestation of the spiritual warfare that brewed in the unseen. We have a choice whether or not to listen to satan’s negative thoughts.  That is truly where the battle for each of us begins, and where I struggled the greatest during this time of unrest in our family.  

At first, my choice to not entertain negative and accusatory thoughts towards those who had brought me pain was a struggle. In my mind a war took place where part of me wanted to accuse them back.  But part of me wanted to find God’s love.  I found that my spiritual weapons were prayer, not accusations. During prayer my mind was clothed in God’s thoughts and good intentions for the people that had hurt me, which caused me to wish them well instead of holding a grudge.  Choosing to pray and entertain God’s good thoughts allowed me to sit at God’s table and “sup” with Him spiritually. 

On the morning following the accusations my husband went to work on the house. But though we had expected 5 helpers, for various reasons only 2 arrived.  I had to make the choice to believe that the Lord would hear my prayers, and did not see us as foolish people. I reminded Him that we needed helpers and finances. I also prayed that, not only would we have the help we needed, but that the Lord would set a table before us in the presence of our enemies (Ps 23:5). That same day another family member brought 2 helpers with him in the afternoon!  These men helped accomplish what my husband had set out to do. 

Having helpers arrive was the first answer of my prayers.  That very same day a friend who had come early to help my husband with the work on the house gave him an envelope before leaving. Thinking this was his friend’s newsletter, my husband set it aside for later.  When he opened the letter after dinner, it contained a check for $10,000!  Though we had never asked anyone to contribute towards the building project, this fine man gave towards the completion of our home. 

The Lord not only answered my prayers for financial help, but truly he set a table for us in the presence of those who accused us wrongfully. This is the God we serve, and He works alongside of us to bring glory on this earth. The family members who helped us, and those who hindered us, all know about this gift.  Do I gloat? No.  It is God that accomplishes every victory we have, and it is He who speaks to the hearts of those who doubt Him to bring conversion to true faith. After all, the ones who tried to discourage us are not our enemies, and perhaps the witness of God’s benevolence on us will unmask their true enemy to them.  When God gives us victory in the presence of our enemies, He intends on turning hearts towards Himself.  Amen.