While writing this, I have a full-blown skin allergy attack. I woke up 2 days ago with red, itchy patches on my skin without any clue what might have triggered them. Nothing was new in my routine nor in my diet, and neither am I too stressed to have another episode.

Though the swelling subsided after I took an antihistamine and applied topical medication, a few red patches would come out in other parts of my body every now and then. Some of them are big enough to cover a specific area i.e. entire legs, entire arms, and entire neck.

This isn’t new.

I have been diagnosed with eczema or atopic dermatitis since I was in college. Exposure to allergens such as dust, pollens, poultry, and certain types of seafood are among the triggers. Stress is also another factor.

We have a history of asthma in the family. So it was no longer a surprise when during the most stressful point of my college life (finishing the thesis), I had a major eczema breakout. Let’s just say this is one of the “thorns in my flesh” – a form of oppression.

This isn’t new either.

Every day we face oppression. Some might feel they are being oppressed by the government and by certain organizations. Others experience oppression at home through relational conflicts with parents, siblings, children, relatives, friends, coworkers, or a spouse.

There are those who have financial constraints as oppression, while others are oppressed because of depression, anxiety disorder, fear, guilt, shame, addiction, and other illnesses. Calamities and tragedies are also other forms of oppression wherein all human efforts tend to be futile in terms of being saved (literally and figuratively).

What Really Is Oppression?

I work from home, and I socialize during the weekends i.e. go to church, date my husband, meet friends, etc. Because of the nCoV breakout and my skin allergy attack, I had to stay at home to limit the chances of me acquiring the virus. This, in itself, is oppression.

As much as I’d like to worship God along with fellow believers in church, I had to seek comfort in the confines of our home. Thank God though our church has live streaming of its services.

We all know that being cut off and out of sync with fellow believers will make you more prone to the attacks of the enemy. One of my Bible study group leaders compare it to that of burning coal. Once you remove one from the rest, its fire will die out.

“A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken.” – Ecclesiastes 4:12

The same goes for us. Once we have remained lukewarm in our faith, the enemy’s oppression will get stronger and weaken our spirits making us vulnerable to temptations and sinning. Also, the testing of our faith will be even more challenging.

Learning From Job

Do you still remember what happened to Job? He went through severe testing and trials and was reduced to a mere mortal deemed powerless against the forces of the enemy. And yet, God proved the enemy wrong. In the end, the faithful servant was rewarded for his unflinching faith in God and God alone.

“My health may fail, and my spirit may grow weak, but God remains the strength of my heart; He is mine forever.” – Psalm 73:26

“The LORD is my rock, my fortress, and my deliverer. My God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.” – Psalm 18:2

“I will see Him for myself; my eyes will behold Him, and not as a stranger. How my heart yearns within me!” – Job 19:27

It is my prayer that in every trial and in every season of our lives, we will continue to rise above every oppression of the enemy. As long as we are breathing, we never back down trusting that God is greater than he who is in this world.

We have been called to fight the good fight of faith. That has always been our mission. Thus, we declare and we fight for it.

Photo courtesy of Unsplash

Having said that, we can expect persecution at its worst, all types of it – emotionally, physically, mentally, financially, and spiritually. The bigger the purpose and work God has for us, the stronger the opposition. Because satan doesn’t like us preaching the Word of God at all. He will send out his army to prevent us from doing so as God’s servants.

We have to keep in mind that prior to Judgement Day, there will be great persecution among the followers of Christ. So we need to be READY and EQUIPPED.

How To Fight Wearing The Armor Of God

1. Ask God what are the battles you need to fight for, what are the battles you need to let go and let God fight them for you, and what are the battles you need to fight together with Him.
2. Seek for His protection and His wisdom DAILY through prayers.
3. Claim the victory of salvation through the Cross.
4. And lastly, wear God’s armor as you fight the evil forces of this world.

The Armor of God

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. ¹⁴ Stand firm then, with the BELT OF TRUTH buckled around your waist, with the BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS in place, ¹⁵ and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the GOSPEL OF PEACE.

¹⁶ In addition to all this, take up the SHIELD OF FAITH, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. ¹⁷ Take the HELMET OF SALVATION and the SWORD OF THE SPIRIT, which is the WORD OF GOD. 

¹⁸ And PRAY IN THE SPIRIT on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.

– Ephesians 6:10-18

For God can be trusted to keep this promise:

“But in that coming day, no weapon turned against you will succeed. You will silence every voice raised up to accuse you. These benefits are enjoyed by the servants of the LORD; their vindication will come from me. I, the LORD, have spoken!” – Isaiah 54:17

Always fighting the good fight of FAITH,

 Read more: Jesus Speaks About The Future