Pretty soon, those around us must deal with the crumbled remains of a hurt and damaged heart. Our mouths snap, "I'm fine," while our eyes pierce through like a blade. We deal with it for so long that we start to believe that this is just the way we are; life is just hard, deal with it.
In one of C. S. Lewis’ greatest works The Screwtape Letters, a collection of letters are written to a young demon named Wormwood, all signed the same, “Love your affectionate Uncle, Screwtape.”
"Do not be deceived, Wormwood. Our cause is never more in danger than when a human, no longer desiring, but still intending, to do our Enemy's [God's] will, looks round upon a universe from which every trace of Him seems to have vanished, and asks why he has been forsaken, and still obeys."
The enemy of our souls is so terrified of us finding out who we are, and whose we are, that his greatest weapon is to keep you convinced that “this is just the way you are and the way you’ll always be.” And it’s in these moments, when we feel like we can’t see God at work anywhere, when it is most vital for us to continue in what He has told us. For then we become truly His.
"Whatever their bodies do affects their souls. It is funny how mortals always picture us as putting things into their minds: in reality our best work is done by keeping things out..."
As Lisa Bevere states in her book Girls with Swords, “often the enemy know who we are, long before we wake up and realize who we are.” You don’t attack something you are not threatened by. If he can keep you ignorant of the power that resides on the inside of you, then he can keep you thinking of yourself as a prisoner of war instead of a warrior.
As you can see, the only real power the enemy has is what we give to him in the form of our thoughts. For a lie to come isn’t a sin, but to take it as truth is and anytime you believe a lie, you empower the liar. The truth is, we are not the injuries we wear. Our identity does not come from the scrapes and bruises of life, but everyday we have a choice in what life we want to live. We can stay in our cage or we can get up and walk out. Sure we might still get hurt, but you just might find out what the enemy is so terrified of. I promise, God made you more stunning than you realize.
"When He [God] talks of their losing their selves, He means only abandoning the clamor of self-will; once they have done that, He really gives them back all their personality, and boasts (I am afraid, sincerely) that when they are wholly His they will be more themselves than ever."
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