Life for most of the world as we knew it has come to an abrupt end. 

• Shelter in place has become the new norm. 
• Those who have jobs are largely working from home.
• Schools are closed, as are shopping centers, movie theaters, fitness centers, and dine-in restaurants. 
• People are isolated from family and friends.  
• Churches are unable to hold services except by video. 

How or when things may begin to return to some semblance of normal, if ever, is unknown. We are at war with what is often called “an unseen enemy.”  As with all warfare, the collateral damage includes fear, anxiety, worry, and depression on massive levels.  

Attempts to relieve this pain result in a diagnosis of illness with prescription medications, as well as self-medication. Alcohol sales are up as much as 500% over the same period last year. 

Do we as Christians have any other strategies with which to cope in these difficult and uncharted waters?

The shield of faith

The Apostle Paul referenced another “unseen enemy” in Ephesians 6:16 when he told the church in the context of spiritual warfare and the whole armor of God: “In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.” 

Warfare was changing quickly during the days of the Roman empire.  In prior centuries armies would line up on a battlefield like opposing football teams and engage in hand-to-hand combat until only the last man was standing. 

The invention of the longbow revolutionized warfare allowing archers to launch barrages of arrows upon the enemy. Shot with a high trajectory they would rain straight down on the vulnerable soldiers and against the bright sun they were all but invisible. 

To make things worse armies would dip the arrowheads in venom from snakes and allow it to crystalize. Even a scratch from one of these arrows mixing with the soldier’s sweat and blood would prove fatal. Another option was to coat the arrow with pitch or pine rosin, setting it on fire just before launching.

 The Roman soldier had two shields. The first was a buckler: a relatively small, circular shield that the soldier carried on one arm into battle. It was light and quick to maneuver in combat. The other was a much larger shield that Paul referred to in Ephesians 6.  

This shield was approximately the size of a door, made of heavy wood, and covered in thick leather.  It was carried by an armor-bearer, a soldier in training, whose job it was before a battle to lay the shield down and pour buckets of water to be soaked up by the leather. The armor-bearer then followed the soldier into battle.  

If the army came under an attack of flaming arrows, the commander would order the bugler to blow a call to assume a defensive position. The armor-bearers would move in front of the soldiers, plant the shield at a 45-degree angle, and kneel into it with their shoulder. The soldier then leaned into the shield above the armor-bearer placing their sword or spear along the edge of the shield. Their other arm interlocked with the soldier beside them.  

Within seconds the previously vulnerable soldiers are now safely sheltered beneath their shields which have formed a formidable, impenetrable wall against the enemy attack. The poisoned or flaming arrows were quickly neutralized by the wet leather.

Our shields are made from God’s word

Paul wrote to the church at Ephesus warning them against spiritual warfare and equipping them with the whole armor of God that they could stand against the schemes of the devil. 

In his letter, the church instantly related to his illustration of the Roman soldier’s armor. While all of the pieces of the armor are important he made a special emphasis to the shield of faith saying “above all” or “in all circumstances” be sure to take it up. 

The parallels to our day are striking. 

As we battle the physical aspects of the COVID-19 war, following the lead of doctors, medical science, and our nation’s leaders, we’re also fighting another unseen enemy of spiritual warfare.  Fear, anxiety, worry, and depression are spiritual attacks. The devil launches them as barrages of flaming arrows meant to kill, steal, and destroy our soul and spirit just as surely as the virus can destroy our physical body.  

Romans 10:17 tells us: “So then faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the Word of Christ.” 

Our shield of faith is constructed from the Word of God. When we come under a spiritual attack, we issue a call for help, like a soldier on the battlefield might call out “incoming!”

Locking our shields together

Fellow Christians bring their shields of faith together, locking arms with those on either side. Satan’s lies are no match for the truth of God’s word as we encourage one another with His promises and watch light dispel darkness.

The sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God, is the offensive weapon that our Lord used with devastating effect against the devil. We follow His example when we effectively and fervently pray, quoting relevant Scriptures as our shield of faith and sword of the Spirit.  

It’s a privilege for us as believers to bear one another’s burdens. 

1 Peter 5:5 tells us that God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble. When in humility we admit to a fellow Christian we are struggling we open the door for them to pray with us and for us.  The next day, it may be our privilege to bear their burdens, praying with and for them. 

The impact of prayer increases exponentially based on the number of people praying. Imagine the impact of small groups of believers weathering this storm together. We pray God’s Word fervently as our shields of faith against the flaming arrows of doubt, fear, worry, and depression.