Image Credit: Dru!

Because I am used to looking for sound bites or noteworthy quotes, often a particular phrase will jump out to me as I read or listen to something.

Occasionally, it might be a whole sentence, but often it is only a few words that leap off the page. Recently one morning as I was reading Ephesians 6, the phrase “having done all, to stand” stood out to me like a searchlight in a dark night.

A few little words. A depth of meaning.

When life throws you a curve ball that you cannot hit back, let God catch it, declare ball #1—-and give you a chance to hit another shot out of the ballpark.

When circumstances threaten your peace and outlook on life, put on God’s armor and stand.

When you are perplexed and confused about the decisions a loved one is making, take it to Jesus and stand.

When the flight mechanism embedded deep in our souls tell us to head for the hills in retreat, run the other direction into Jesus’s arms and stand still while you watch the power of God.

When you feel hit and broadsided at every turn, get up out of your fetal position, cry out to the source of your strength, and stand.

When you have done all that you know God has directed to do in the middle of an impossible situation, stand in God’s strength. Don’t cower. Don’t compromise. Don’t back down. Don’t quit.

Having done all, stand.