How to Be Dangerous When You Feel Weak
by Rachel Bowman
“I can’t” was a regular part of my thoughts and the enemy had led me to believe it was true. My desperate prayer during this dark season was, “God, how can I make an impact and do Your will when I feel like I am just surviving?” The disciples were ordinary people yet somehow, they made an eternal impact on the Kingdom of God despite life-threatening opposition. I did not feel like I was qualified for this kind of risky living.
But what if being dangerous against the enemy looks different than I thought? What if it isn’t about shows of strength amidst drama? What if it is also in the everyday slow, small moments of faithfulness?
When my whole world fell apart, God gave me a vision. He was holding me close to His chest, high up over a landscape of destruction. House debris and brokenness were everywhere, and it was dark. I cried out to God, “I can’t live like this. Tell me what to do! I need to fix this!” His answer was, “Do nothing.” I did not fully understand but tried my best to obey. I tried to do it my way many times, only to have to return to rest in His arms again. After much confusion, prayer, and waiting, I felt it was time to clean up the rubble, but how would I move on and rebuild? How could I equip myself, heal, and train for what life throws my way unexpectedly? How do I become dangerous for the Kingdom when I feel weak? Here are the top three things I am learning:
Practice Spiritual Disciplines
We were not built for this fast-paced, loud world. Richard Foster wrote, “Our enemy, the adversary, thrives in three things – noise, hurry, and crowds.” To combat the enemy’s attempt to distract us from Jesus, disciplines like silence, slowing, solitude, breath prayers, scripture, and the like are essential to growth and centeredness. Spiritual disciplines are small acts of obedience on a long journey to deep trust and connection to the best, safest attachment figure: God himself. They provide spiritual connection, clarity, strength, and a heightened ability to hear God’s voice and be present with Him. They build spiritual muscle necessary to have unshakeable, dangerous faith.
Regulate Your Nervous System
Our souls, minds, and bodies are connected. When our nervous systems are in fight, flight, or freeze mode, we are not our full, whole selves. Discerning when we truly need to fight requires us to grow in body-awareness, before the battle. While we cannot control our exterior world or circumstances, we can work towards keeping our nervous system regulated and adaptable. Having a toolbox filled with things to calm, grow, and heal ourselves is essential. Tools like therapy, journaling, walking, and breath work are there for us to be able to get back into homeostasis so we can respond and not react. Give yourself room for grace and learning here as it takes time. Nervous system regulation tools provide the ability to see, hear, and respond more carefully to our surroundings and the voice of Jesus. We are souls inside human bodies. A healthy and centered nervous system is robust, flexible, and ready to face danger.
Be Ready and Remain in Position
With our spiritual disciplines in place and our nervous systems regulated, the next thing to practice is remaining in a posture of readiness. Mary Magdalene gives us an example of this: after Jesus’ death her world was shattered, yet she remained at the tomb, ready for God to do anything. When Jesus showed up, she was the first person to see Him. She—a woman!—got to be the first person to proclaim the Gospel message of Christ’s resurrection to the disciples. What if she had not been obedient in those small moments of spiritual discipline? What if she had fled the scene in her grief? What if remaining with Jesus, even in the doubt and grief, is what is truly dangerous?
In seasons when we feel weak, the enemy’s lie to us is that we are damaged and demobilized. But God’s purpose is not thwarted by our changing circumstances. You are created with purpose. We cannot let the enemy lie to us about who we are and who God is. Even if everything falls apart and you are lost, confused, or doubting – you are loved, safe and chosen with Him. If we practice our spiritual disciplines, take care of our whole selves–body, mind and soul–and stay ready to hear from Him, God is strong in our weakness. The Holy Spirit will empower you, enable you, and make you dangerous against the enemy for His glory and good.
RACHEL BOWMAN
Rachel Bowman is a mom to four in four years after infertility, a church planter, and a licensed minister who now thrives in the corporate world. She enjoys icy-cold coffee, a Lego-free floor, and encouraging women to lead where God placed them. As a certified breathwork facilitator, she shares breath prayers and Biblical affirmations at @HaveADangerousDay on social media.
