You Do Not Need to Protect Yourself
The pain in your struggle — whatever your personal struggle may be — is real and valid. You do not have to be defined, however, by how torn you feel, and how concerning these circumstances are for you.
In the past, like everyone, I have been overwhelmed by worries and fears. I still continue the daily labor of love that is freeing me from the pain of struggling through life’s difficulties.
For example, not long ago, political news stressed me out, culture wars seemed impossible to ignore, and I found myself in a constant state of distrust, fear, and anxiety. I have had many other personal concerns, too, but these examples are, in our culture today, nearly universally relatable and suffice for the point I want to make.
Recently, I discovered a simple truth that revealed a path beyond fear, stress, and anxiety.
This truth is extremely difficult to accept, yet I will share it with you. Whether you can accept it and incorporate it into your worldview, I believe, will largely depend on how attached you are to this world, this life, and all the things in it (including and especially yourself and your own ego).
If you want to be free of the conflict and stress of this world’s struggles, first, you’ll need to allow God to renew your mind.
“Do not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that you may prove what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.”
Romans 12:2
Then, as God begins to renew your mind, focus on shifting your attachments from this world to the Kingdom of God.
“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust consume and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consumes and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.”
Matthew 6:19–21
As you become less attached to this life, this world, and all its struggles you will be more receptive to the simple truth that will finally free you.
The truth is this:
You do not need to protect yourself.
Really, you can’t protect yourself, anyway. The illusion that you can is vanity. Compared to the universe and everyone in it, you really are as vulnerable as an infant. You can choose, however, to place yourself safely in the hands of God. To do that, though, you must first love God with all your heart.
Loving God means obeying His commands and living according to His will for your life. If you love God, you are in Him, and He is in you. When you are in this state of grace, no one and nothing can harm your spirit.
Others may physically or emotionally hurt you; they may rob you; they may torture or even kill you. In response, God will comfort you, provide for your needs, and resurrect your body and your spirit on the last day.
We are called to be martyrs, and we are called to love as martyrs love. Recall the stoning of St. Stephen the Martyr:
“But he, full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God; and he said, ‘Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing at the right hand of God.’ And as they were stoning Stephen, he prayed, ‘Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.’ And he knelt down and cried with a loud voice, ‘Lord, do not hold this sin against them.’ And when he had said this, he fell asleep.”
Acts 7:55–56,59–60
In our modern, Western society, martyrdom doesn’t usually look like being physically murdered for your faith. More commonly, martyrdom looks like being ostracized, losing social prestige or social currency, missing out on job opportunities, losing friends, being estranged from family, and being misunderstood.
Through all that suffering, we are called to gladly sacrifice our attachments to those things in order to live a life of vulnerability, openness, love, kindness, and compassion for others.
This starts with the truth:
You do not need to protect yourself.
God will protect you, or he will perfect you. In either case, your spirit will endure, and you will find eternal peace with God.
Live a life of love. Hold nothing back. Be vulnerable and kind and compassionate. You do not have to protect yourself.
© 2021 Noel Bagwell. All Right Reserved.
