Sometimes, in an effort to help survivors feel better, we may minimize the pain that they feel. Even if we don’t say the words (“Oh surely it’s not as bad as all that”) the implication is communicated that wasn’t all that bad, or that the pain shouldn’t have lingered so very long.

Please know that survivors possibly have enemies bigger than you can imagine. I think there may be a difference between an enemy and a hindrance (really anyone who tries to keep us from growing closer to God is a hindrance, someone who delays our progress or makes it difficult).

But our enemies are greater than individuals. Enemies can be fear, or certain memories, or scars from pain that no child should ever have to endure. These are real enemies, as real as Goliath when David faced him without any real weapons.

We’ll discuss enemies this month. For now, know that our enemies—survivors’ enemies, and your enemies—are real but God is more real. They are strong but God is stronger. They are present but God is more fully present, which is why when God “prepares a table before us in the presence of our enemies” (Psalm 23:5) it is possible for us all to sit down, relax, and enjoy the feast.

Photo by Brett Jordan on Unsplash.com