There was a Christian soldier who became weary in his journey and thought to himself, “From where did all these hardships come? Why are there so many thorns and thistles in my path?” So, he walked along in despondency. Not far ahead, he came upon an inviting patch of grass and decided to rest.
What was supposed to be a couple of hours of rest turned into a season of relaxation, though the soldier did not know it. He laid aside his sword and shield. He removed his helmet and breastplate and placed them in the grass. Eventually his sandals and belt came off as well—strewn about around him.
The Christian soldier was now quite comfortable. He imagined himself boldly marching forward in the things of God, yet he had no idea that he was actually on the verge of sleep.
Day after day this was his stay. At times, passing comrades would call out, “Soldier… arise! Arise and march on!” But their voices did little to move him. And like his armor that came off, he had also put off being watchful and was no longer given to prayer.
Day turned to evening, and gradually evening became night. The soldier, now fast asleep, dreamed himself to be marching forward in the things of God. But something was about to awaken him.
A growl—horrifying and dreadful—snarled and jolted him awake. He was shocked. Again the sound came, this time seeming to emerge from within. The soldier sat up in the darkness, confused and frightened.
“Lord, I did not say that!” he exclaimed frantically. “Where am I? How did I get here? Why is it night?”
The darkness surrounded him, and the growls assaulted him over and over.
The soldier reached for his sword and tried to use it, swinging in the darkness, but it had no effect. The dreadful sounds seemed to come from within. And so, he was driven to prayer, crying out to the Lord in his distress.
“How can I be a Christian if these are my thoughts? Oh, what awful thoughts!” His mind and heart were greatly troubled.
After a while, daylight began to break again. As morning approached, the soldier stood up and began to sing praises to the Lord. But suddenly a dreadful roar sounded, and instantly he was plunged into night again.
The soldier curled up in the grass and wept bitterly. “God has left me,” he said, for the roar was a blaspheming voice.
“Whispering suggested many grievous blasphemies to him, which he verily thought had proceeded from his own mind. This put Christian more to it than anything that he met with before, even to think that he should now blaspheme Him that he loved so much before. Yet if he could have helped it, he would not have done it; but he had not the discretion either to stop his ears, or to know from whence these blasphemies came.”
— Pilgrim’s Progress
“Lord, I did not say that,” wept the soldier. He could not tell if it was coming from without or within. He lay in dread, for it seemed as though the flames of hell had come upon him.
“How can I be a Christian if these are my thoughts?”
Confused, grieved, and filled with terror, he cried, “Oh Lord, if You deliver me from this place, I promise to warn others about it!” Again, he was given to prayer, pleading for deliverance.
His belt, breastplate, sandals, shield, and helmet lay close by in the grass, but he could not perceive them.
Once more daylight began to break, but as soon as he felt uplifted, the roaring blasphemies returned, and fiery darts of doubt shot into his mind. Again, he cried in tears, “How can I be a Christian if these are my thoughts?”
He lay on the grass in the darkness with his sword, confused and sorrowful, given to prayer—his armor near but unseen.
This was the soldier’s stay for some time. Though he dwelt in darkness, light was mercifully given to him. He began to see the source of the blasphemies. He understood at last that he was without his armor, and that if he was ever to have victory over the enemy, he needed to put it on.
“PUT ON YOUR ARMOR, SOLDIER!” was the command. And so, he did.
He was made able by the grace and mercy of God.
Gradually the soldier was led out of night and into light. His fellow soldiers rejoiced to see their comrade—once fast asleep—awake and fully dressed in his armor again, marching forward in the things of God.
Christian, stay prayerful, be watchful, and never lay down your armor.
Satan is indeed very crafty, and his attacks are often subtle. He waits for moments when a believer becomes weary or careless in their walk with Christ, then seeks to exploit that weakness. In those moments of spiritual laxity, the enemy may strike with fiery darts of doubt and blasphemous thoughts, aiming to shake your faith and distract you from the truth. These thoughts can feel overwhelming, but they are not a reflection of your heart toward Christ—they are assaults from the adversary, who seeks to rob you of peace and joy in the Lord.
One of Satan’s common tactics is to convince you that you are not truly saved. He whispers lies that make you question God’s grace and the finished work of Jesus Christ on the cross. The devil knows that if he can keep you doubting your salvation, he can weaken your witness and hinder your growth in Christ. But the Word of God assures us that those who have trusted in Jesus are secure in His hands (John 10:28–29). No attack of the enemy can undo what God has already accomplished in your life through faith in His Son.
To stand firm against these assaults, you must daily put on the full armor of God, as Paul teaches in Ephesians 6. This includes girding yourself with truth, guarding your heart with righteousness, walking in the gospel of peace, lifting the shield of faith, wearing the helmet of salvation, and wielding the sword of the Spirit—the Word of God. Prayer is also essential, for it keeps you connected to the power of the Lord, who alone gives strength to resist the devil. By staying watchful, rooted in Scripture, and relying on God’s strength, you can overcome the enemy’s lies and remain steadfast in your walk with Christ.
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Ephesians 6 10-18