When do you fight and when do you let the Author of Life fight for you?
“The Lord will fight for you. You need only to be still.” (Exodus 14:14)
And yet Jesus also said,
“I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves.” (Matthew 10:16)
Shrewd is honest about the reality that you are broken and so are others. In this world, you will have trouble. Expect it. Build in margin for it. Take some precautions—for the sake of your heart, your art, and your family.
But if it’s a fight you want, it’s probably not your fight. Explore the “innocent” part first.
Innocent isn’t naive. Innocent is innocent. When I’m innocent, I’m childlike—trusting the Father of Heaven has my best interests in mind. Trusting that He—and only He—specializes in working for my good. Even when the whole situation seems stacked against me.
When I’m innocent I’m childlike—getting in touch with my true, inner self. Not the projection of me. Not the image of me who needs to perform and the look the part. Not the insecure me who needs to prove himself and promote himself.
The real me. The soul of me. “The face I had before I was born,” as some have said. That me. That you.
That’s the version of us that is innocent because of our trust in God. We still understand that people will betray us and let us down. We’re not naive to darkness in others, or the reality that hurt people will hurt us and insecure people will fail us. We account for that. It hurts, but it doesn’t ruin us. It drives us deeper—past our projections, and into our real self… where the Spirit nourishes our weary souls.
So be shrewd and take the proper precautions because wolves want to destroy you. Don’t put your trust in organizations or institutions; they will let you down. Love your enemies, even though they pretend they aren’t.
Take heart. There is a death and there is new life. And both are the mercy and grace and goodness of God.
It might feel like you’re dying, but you’re actually being reborn—and the new version of you is better still.