​”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.” (Ephesians 6:10-11)

​This verse is a powerhouse. It’s the rallying cry for every Christian facing a spiritual battle. Paul tells us to suit up and stand firm, which makes a lot of sense when you think about it. The armor of God is all about facing your problems head-on. But if you’re like me, maybe you’ve had to learn a different kind of survival lesson, too.

​I’ve spent a lot of my life learning when to fight, but also when to run. Growing up, I was taught that fighting was a survival tactic. It was what you did to protect yourself. But when I found myself on my own at twelve, I learned an even more important lesson: running could save your life. Running from bad situations, running from danger, and running from things I just wasn’t ready to face. That kind of running wasn’t about being a coward, it was about staying alive.

​This is where the armor of God gets interesting. The passage in Ephesians 6 lists every piece of a Roman soldier’s armor, but it leaves one thing out: the backplate. It’s a powerful symbol. It suggests that a soldier of God should never turn their back on the enemy. You are meant to stand your ground and face the fight directly.

​But what if, like me, you’ve lived a life where running was your main defense? How does that fit with this idea of always facing forward?

​The key is to understand what kind of battle we’re in. The armor of God isn’t for physical fights against other people. Paul says our struggle isn’t “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.” (Ephesians 6:12).

​Here’s the first theological principle at play: The Reality of Spiritual Warfare. This passage teaches us that beyond the challenges we see, there’s an invisible battle for our souls, minds, and spirits. We’re not just dealing with bad days or difficult people; we’re contending with forces that seek to steal our peace and joy.

​In a spiritual sense, running isn’t always the answer. You can’t outrun temptation forever. You can’t outrun doubt or fear. Those are the battles where you have to put on your shield of faith and stand firm. The helmet of salvation protects your mind from despair, and the breastplate of righteousness guards your heart. These are the defenses that let you stand your ground when the enemy comes at you with flaming arrows of lies and deception.

​This leads us to our second principle: God Provides for Protection and Victory. Notice it’s the “armor of God.” This isn’t gear we forge ourselves. God provides the truth, righteousness, peace, faith, salvation, and His very Word as our sword. We don’t have to fight in our own strength, because our strength comes from Him and the powerful tools He’s given us.

​So maybe the lesson is this: there is a time and place for everything. You may have needed to run in the past to survive, and that was an act of wisdom and self-preservation. But now, as a child of God, you have a new kind of armor for a new kind of battle. It’s an armor that gives you the courage to stop running from spiritual attacks and start standing your ground, fully protected by God’s provision.

​This brings us to a third principle: The Believer’s Active Role. God provides the armor, but we are commanded to “put on” and “take up” each piece. Our faith isn’t passive. It requires our active participation in wielding God’s truth, living righteously, and declaring the Gospel of peace.

​Reflection Question:

​Considering the difference between physical threats you’ve faced and spiritual battles, what “spiritual attacks” are you currently trying to outrun, and how might “putting on” a specific piece of God’s armor help you to finally stand your ground?