A Valiant Warrior: Prepared for Impact

Imagine a valiant warrior. What do you see? Chiseled features? Metal armor? Is it like a gladiator or a knight? Maybe camouflage. Is the warrior wearing a helmet? Are weapons drawn? What powerful armament is carried by such a warrior to aid in the annihilation of the enemy force? I see the stern eyes gazing into the future. Bold words surround him: courageous, brave, champion, fearless, heroic, valiant. I see a strong individual facing an opponent ready for anything. Ready to fight. Ready to die. 

A warrior does not prepare to cower. They do not prepare to run away. They do not prepare to be frozen in fear. They don’t prepare to cry. Warriors prepare so they are ready to overcome. But that doesn’t mean they don’t want to cower, run away, freeze, and cry. 

A few years back I was rear-ended by a car in the snow. I was stopped at a light on a slight hill. A car came barrelling over the hill, unprepared for the slippery slope, unprepared for the red light. Conversely, I had approached the light in full preparation. I was aware of the route and its hazards in this type of weather. I crested the hill with ease ready to pump the brakes as needed. To my right I noticed a car already in a bus stop after floundering in such conditions. Though my car did slip, though my wheels did skid, though my back-end fishtailed, I was still able to maneuver safely to the stop line. “Good job, me,” I thought. I had the precious cargo of the three children. My youngest was in an infant car seat, safely facing the rear, downing a prepared bottle. My other two were fastened in their car seats appropriately while aloofly munching on some Cheerios in a little snack cup that would prevent spills. I was on my way to church, and I had given myself plenty of extra time given the conditions. I was prepared for happy children full of snacks to sit through an evening service that disrupted the normal bedtime routine. I had fully prepared. Then I saw in my rearview mirror the other car: unprepared, lack of caution, losing control. I saw its feeble attempts to stop. It was like time slowed down as it came towards me. I had time to fully process that this car was going to make an impact with mine. I had time to consider if I should move, but I couldn’t because oncoming traffic was steady. I had time to accept that I was going to get struck and it was a matter of how hard. Would it be hard enough to push me into oncoming traffic? Then I would have a real problem at hand. I could get side swiped in the intersection where my precious, living cargo sat. I had time to breathe a prayer. I waited for the impact, gripping the steering wheel. I was a valiant warrior because I was prepared.

My imagined picture of a valiant warrior did not originally include a disheveled mother in a minivan bracing for impact saying a quick prayer. It did not include a shivering lady sloshing through snow in high heels to inspect damage and whisper “it’s ok” to little children. It did not include a mom sitting in a gas station parking lot, missing church, talking to insurance agents and waiting for police who would never arrive. My original picture faded as I embraced a definition of a warrior.

A valiant warrior is prepared. They say, “I am ready – hit me.” If you are not prepared, it is impossible to even make that statement. With great preparation, you can make that statement, no matter how scared you feel.

Ephesians 6:10-13 “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 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. 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.”

I was a valiant warrior because I was prepared for impact. Though I did not know that a car would hit me at that moment and I was not successful with arriving at my destination, my preparation allowed me to stand my ground, to adjust, to comfort those around me, and to make decisions. 

Consider how to prepare for warrioring life: study God’s Word, dedicate myself to prayer, invest in meaningful friendships, serve others, create space to be vulnerable, grow in my mind, take care of my physical well-being, and get sleep. I don’t know what or when, but I know I will face an impact. Since that tiny moment years ago, I have had a great many collisions with the challenges common to this world. But my preparation has allowed me to stand.

Now when I picture that valiant warrior, I picture myself. The puffy eyes, the heavy heart, the frazzled hair sprouting grays and whites, the runny nose and pile of tissues, the head that aches from shoulder shaking weeping. Sometimes the valiant warrior is crying on the top of the stairs. Sometimes the valiant warrior can be found secluded in a corner feverishly writing paragraphs of messy thoughts. Sometimes the valiant warrior is staring at the ceiling realizing that the only hero that is going to show up is the one alone on her back staring at the ceiling. This valiant warrior overcomes because Jesus already won. No one is coming, but he is already there. This valiant warrior also is found praying, reading, and filling up herself with music and words of encouragement. This valiant warrior is also found exercising and eating whole foods and researching. This valiant warrior is prepared.

So I stand up. I face the day. I put my chin up. “I am ready – hit me,” I proclaim to the day. His Spirit is in me and with me, Even though I sometimes want to run away, cower, freeze, and cry. Those feelings don’t mean I am not a valiant warrior. Greater is the one living inside of me, than he who is living in the world (1 John 4:4). Prepare, because the impact is coming.