Friday Fight 220: Fighting, Not Fleeing

Every Friday, when I wake and pray, God places something on my heart to help fight darkness beginning in our minds. Today is FF220.

What happens in our minds when we feel like quitting? Perhaps it’s the allure of a job with fewer responsibilities, the weight of disappointment in a relationship, or the realization that a goal we set is much harder to achieve than we expected. Some of us may be fighting for peace in a toxic environment or struggling with the pressure of always wanting to be right. How do we respond in those moments when life feels overwhelming? Our flesh desires to pull away, shut down, and isolate ourselves because it’s the easiest, most natural response. But is that what God asks of us?

Fighting, Not Fleeing:

We’ve all had moments where we felt we weren’t enough—tired, offended, or tempted to disappear after a difficult conversation. The instinct to withdraw emotionally, mentally, or physically can feel justified, and we often speak those thoughts to ourselves repeatedly to justify our choices. Choosing to stay when it’s easier to leave is difficult, but Scripture doesn’t call us to distance; it calls us to remain rooted in Christ, even when things get messy.

I understand the urge to be done with a situation, an environment, or a person, but that’s exactly when we should accept God’s invitation to stay close and lean into Him through prayer. It's often in those moments that He does His most transformative work, both in us and through us. God can handle our disappointment, our weakness, and our hopelessness. He invites us to be honest with Him. When we ask for His help, He strengthens us and keeps our hearts soft, rather than bitter.

Learning to fight rather than flee means staying spiritually engaged. The enemy of our souls wants us to shut down, build emotional walls, and believe that isolation equals safety. These walls could be built of pride, anger, or past trauma. But isolation doesn’t heal—it hardens. It keeps us surviving instead of allowing God to restore us.

The true fight begins with a clean heart. One particular verse I often pray is Psalm 51:10: “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.” This was David’s prayer after his greatest moral failure. He wasn’t asking for a quick fix; he wanted a transformation. When we pray this, we’re not just asking God to change our circumstances, but to change us. A purified heart leads to softened responses. We begin to react less from pain and more from grace. We let go of the need to be right and become open to growth and healing.

Fighting can resemble many things spiritually. Sometimes it means praying when you want to give up, fasting, seeking mentorship, or simply staying in community. Remain connected by going to church, even when you don’t feel like it. Don’t isolate yourself when you're hurting. God uses people to help heal others. He is our refuge and not limited by the walls we build to keep others out. Take time to pray about this and ask the Holy Spirit to reveal an area of your life where you feel like quitting. Then, pray further about any emotional walls that have been built, which may prevent healing. Do not flee in fear; instead, fight with faith!

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In His Grace,

Pastor Shannon

River Church