"Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold of eternal life..."
1 Timothy 6:12
"Battle fatigue" is a legitimate malady of soldiers who are in constant and continuous warfare...
1 Timothy 6:12
"Battle fatigue" is a legitimate malady of soldiers who are in constant and continuous warfare...
So if the fighting and the stress warfare produces continues for a prolonged period of time, a soldier might begin to experience mental and physical exhaustion. It could even progress to the point where he can no longer function at the level he needs to be at. And this could put the soldier along with the other members of his unit at a high degree of danger.
In addition, if it happens that the weary soldier does not get enough rest to allow for physical and mental recuperation, his chances of experiencing battle fatigue increases greatly. The loss of much needed strength and alertness could prove costly.
I had been sharing about this type of fatigue in a letter to a friend who was himself dealing with this very same thing. For I too have been experiencing feelings of exhaustion, both physically and mentally. This is not the first time.
I told my friend that as followers of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, we know that we are in a spiritual war. Which is why the apostle Paul, for example, urged the young pastor Timothy, who Paul had been instructing, to "fight the good fight of faith."
Also, in biblical passages such as Ephesians 6:10-18, Saint Paul urged every Christian to "put on the whole armor of God" that we may be able to stand against and ultimately defeat the devil and his demon soldiers. And we have the indwelling help of the Holy Spirit with us as well, because ultimately the battle is the Lord's.
Nevertheless, there are times when a soldier needs rest. Warfare is tough. And so those who love and serve the Lord can become weary. Therefore, it is okay to allow for rest. This is both wise and necessary.
In times past, I used to feel guilty whenever I took a break. But now that I'm older and wiser, allowing for times and seasons, and for rest and recuperation, is the smart thing to do. We can fight better when we're well rested and refreshed.
"Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him..." (Psalm 37:7).
D.B.
In addition, if it happens that the weary soldier does not get enough rest to allow for physical and mental recuperation, his chances of experiencing battle fatigue increases greatly. The loss of much needed strength and alertness could prove costly.
I had been sharing about this type of fatigue in a letter to a friend who was himself dealing with this very same thing. For I too have been experiencing feelings of exhaustion, both physically and mentally. This is not the first time.
I told my friend that as followers of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, we know that we are in a spiritual war. Which is why the apostle Paul, for example, urged the young pastor Timothy, who Paul had been instructing, to "fight the good fight of faith."
Also, in biblical passages such as Ephesians 6:10-18, Saint Paul urged every Christian to "put on the whole armor of God" that we may be able to stand against and ultimately defeat the devil and his demon soldiers. And we have the indwelling help of the Holy Spirit with us as well, because ultimately the battle is the Lord's.
Nevertheless, there are times when a soldier needs rest. Warfare is tough. And so those who love and serve the Lord can become weary. Therefore, it is okay to allow for rest. This is both wise and necessary.
In times past, I used to feel guilty whenever I took a break. But now that I'm older and wiser, allowing for times and seasons, and for rest and recuperation, is the smart thing to do. We can fight better when we're well rested and refreshed.
"Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him..." (Psalm 37:7).
D.B.