Christian Living

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(written Summer 2001)

THE WARRIOR IS A CHILD
words and music by Twila Paris

Lately I’ve been winning battles left and right
But even winners can get wounded in the fight
People say that I’m amazing
Strong beyond my years
But they don’t see inside of me
I’m hiding all my tears.

They don’t know
That I go running home when I fall down.
They don’t know
Who picks me up when no one is around.
I drop my sword and cry for just a while,
’Cause deep inside this armor
The warrior is a child.

Unafraid because His armor is the best
But even soldiers need a quiet place to rest.
People say that I’m amazing
Never face retreat.
But they don’t see the enemies
That lay me at His feet.

They don’t know
That I go running home when I fall down.
They don’t know
Who picks me up when no one is around.
I drop my sword and look up for a smile,
’Cause deep inside this armor
The warrior is a child.

Wow, what a time of change for me. When change comes at you and trouble faces every aspect of your life, it’s so easy to just retreat and have a nice, long pity party for yourself.

As I was driving this morning, I was thinking about all the changes that are happening to my life in the course of a month. I’m leaving the band I’ve been with for eight years. I’m leaving the church I’ve been a member of for ten years. I’m resigning from a committee I’ve been on for nearly three years. I’m quitting a job I’ve been at for three and a half years. I’m ending a special friendship I’ve had for two years. We’ve had car repairs and house repairs we hadn’t anticipated.

As I left the convenience to store I stop at every morning for coffee, I turned the key to start my car and “BLAM!” I heard a loud bang under the car and then … nothing. Just a click in the ignition and it was dead. I had blown the battery.

Okay, so now I have a choice. My first instinct was to cry; just curl up in a ball right there in my car and act like a child. Then my second instinct hit … laughing. I began to giggle uncontrollably. Have you ever reached that point? Life has dog-piled you so much that it becomes truly comical. Feeling a bit like Ziggy, that loveable cartoon character whose life always seems to be a dog-pile, I went back inside and called my wonderful, mechanically-inclined husband to come and rescue me.

As I stood on the sidewalk waiting for him to arrive, a construction worker approached me from across the parking lot. He looked at me and said, “Cheer up! It can’t be that bad!” I must have had a very distant and pitiful look on my face. Again, I laughed, thinking, “You have no idea!”

But he was right. As long as we trust in God, we have to cheer up. It isn’t that bad when we believe God is in control of our life. Romans 8:28 reminds us that all things work together for good for those who love the Lord.

We’ve all heard the phrase “be careful what you ask for, you might just get it.” I believe that’s what’s happening to me. I’ve been praying the Prayer of Jabez for some time now.

Oh, that you would bless me indeed
That you would enlarge my territory
That your hand would be with me
That you would keep me from evil
That I would not cause pain.

God is blessing me. In order to enlarge my territory, He has to take me out of the territory I’m in now. Our human tendency is to go kicking and screaming, resisting all the way. His hand is with me always. I have peace in every situation, knowing that God has bigger plans for me.

God is leading me to a new and exciting church with a heart for genuine, spirit-filled worship. He’s opening doors in my career to allow me to do the writing and consulting work I’ve always wanted to do. He’s surrounded me with a loving and supportive family and circle of friends to uphold me. Yes, there’s uncertainty, especially in the area of money. But God has given me a vision of my future that honors Him.

It’s in times of uncertainty and fear that our faith becomes most important. Faith is believing in the unseen, hoping in the unknown. God is Jehovah-Jireh, the Lord my provider. As long as we trust in Him more than ourselves, He will always take care of us.

I love this song, The Warrior Is A Child. It speaks of how we will constantly be fighting earthly battles … and we will be wounded. But the full armor of God is the best. Earthly enemies cannot penetrate it. We always have a home to run to in God. He will always give us a place to rest and heal our wounds.

To me, running home is not a sign of weakness. It’s a sign of knowing where your power comes from … God. Apart from Christ we can do nothing.

So it’s at times like this that I drop my sword and look up for a smile. God is saying, “Trust me. I will not let your foot be moved.” I pray without ceasing, and with my eyes wide open. I feel as if I’ve crawled up in my Daddy’s lap for comfort. And in a little while, He’ll se me down gently on my feet, pat me on the rear, and say, “Go play. I’ll be right here watching.”

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