How Do We Endure in Faith and Hope: Armor of God

I can honestly say that this is where the challenge lies. I know I need to endure to the end in faith and hope, but right now just making it through the day can be very challenging. It is very overwhelming to think that we have such a long time before we get to hold and be with Archer again. One thing that keeps coming to mind is putting on the whole Armor of God.

Ephesians 6: 11-18

11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;

15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;

16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.

17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:

18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;

At this point in time, I am weak and vulnerable to the wiles of the devil. I am tired, having difficulty sleeping at times and emotional. None of this makes thwarting the adversary easier. Writing this hopefully will help me to remember what I need to do. I need to put this list somewhere as reminder when being heartbroken, discouraged and despondent are the prevalent emotions I am feeling. I continually have President Eyring’s saying ringing through my head (paraphrased): We are in a war and there are too many casualties… We need

1: “Loins girt—Loins means the area between the hips and abdomen. Girt means tied around firmly. Girt loins don’t have any loose clothing flowing around them that could trip up the legs and feet. Generally, to “gird your loins” means to prepare for action.” I take from this a few things. We need to be prepared. Truth needs to be tied firmly around us. The Gospel of Jesus Christ must surround us.

2: Breastplate covers our chest, which encases our heart. Righteousness needs to abound in our hearts. I can’t say that I am in the best place where righteousness is filling my heart. I am wracked with guilt from some things that Archer experienced in his short life. One surgeon I want to pummel for what he did on Archer’s next to last day here. Most of that hostility is because I am so mad at myself for not protecting him better from some physical trauma that happened that day. My heart is beating, but forgiveness is something I am working on for myself and Dr. “Red Shoes,” as I call him. This is going to take time to get there. I will continue to pray for forgiveness and healing.

3: Feet are shod with the gospel of peace. Gospel means good news, the good news of peace. I find that peace right now through the knowledge of a living Savior. Peace comes to me because I know Archer isn’t suffering anymore. Peace comes to me because he is living with Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. Peace comes to me because if I can endure in faith and hope I will live with him again. Peace comes to me because through Christ’s resurrection Archer will have a perfect body. To me that is not just good news, it is humbling, amazing and exciting news.

4: Shield of faith to quench the fiery darts of the wicked. We all know there are so many fiery darts flying at us, and they don’t just come from the wicked. They come from ourselves, my guilt is a fiery dart. They come from people who don’t know what the heck to say to you. There is NOTHING anyone can say that is going to make me feel better, sorry. Being able to talk about it with close friends helps, but it is a temporary thing. Sometimes the good intentioned sayings are actually a huge fiery dart for me. Oh, I could list them, but it won’t help. Just know if you don’t know what to say then don’t say anything, and that is ok. Then I don’t have to repent for being annoyed with what you did say and you help me in the long run.

5. Helmet of Salvation, a helmet covers and protects our heads. I think we need to be reminded of what Christ has done, the good news. That because of the resurrection and atonement of Jesus Christ we can have salvation.

6. Sword of the spirit to fight against those fiery darts. We have a sword to fight so that we aren’t a casualty of war. We have a sword so that we can fight back. It is one of the reasons we decided to write this blog, we wanted to help others fight through their loss, pain and devastation. We wanted to honor Archer for being such an amazing example of how to endure through things that are difficult.

I just want to close with the last verse of I Am a Child of God. It hit home the night before he passed, it was one of the songs we sang to him for our Family Home Evening.

4. I am a child of God.

His promises are sure;

Celestial glory shall be mine

If I can but endure.