This week, I was driving and lamenting to the Lord about this or that problem in my life. In every situation, I felt like I had done everything I could do on my own and had prayed for the Lord’s help for the things I couldn’t. Why weren’t things getting FIXED already? Then the words popped into my mind. “Embrace the suck.” Wait. Was that like James 1:2? I decided to do a study to find out.
“Embrace the Suck”
No one knows the exact origin of this wise but vulgar phrase, but it gained popularity in 2003 from Marines engaged in the Iraq War. From the Military Times, it’s the idea that while strategy and planning may make war look easy, the reality on the ground is far from it. It is then up to the soldiers themselves to power through the tough climates, rough conditions, and less than ideal situations — the “suck” — to do the jobs they were sent to do.
After all, soldiers can’t control the variables. Of course, they knew what they were getting into when they signed up, but when things get tough, they can’t just quit without extreme repercussions. Instead, they should view every harsh assignment as a chance to toughen themselves and learn skills and lessons that would help them survive whatever they would be faced with next. Resisting and complaining would not change their situations, but learning and persevering would bring them to the other side as better soldiers than when they went in.
Christians Are Also at War
“Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.
2 Timothy 2:3-4
No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please Him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.”
We may not eat canned “rations” or live in bombed-out buildings with no air conditioning, but don’t let our contented bellies, temperate climate, and comfy beds fool you. We’re in a spiritual war! The Bible says that we have an enemy (Ephesians 6:12), uniforms (Ephesians 6:11), and weapons (2 Corinthians 10:4). We fight by faith (1 Timothy 6:12), and our authority comes from Jesus (Luke 10:19) who has already won the war (Colossians 2:15). That means that we don’t fight FOR victory but FROM victory. When we submit to God and resist the devil, he has to flee (James 4:7).
War Is (the Only) Hell (Christians Will Ever Know)
“My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.
James 1:2-4
But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.”
The Bible warns us in John 16:33 that we will face hardships, trials, and conditions that are not to our liking. Sometimes things are going to “suck,” but we shouldn’t expect anything less from war. We have a job to do for the Lord where He has us, and we are guaranteed to face problems while we’re there. These could be problems on the job, in our families, or with illnesses or injuries. We could face money troubles, car troubles, marriage troubles, and more. All the while, the enemy’s darts of depression, worry, and confusion assail us from all sides. But the Bible tells us not to complain or give in to despair. The Lord is with us and will fight for us. We just need to use the sword of the Word of God to fight the Enemy and, as James 1:2 says, embrace the suck.
That means that when we face trials and tribulations that we can’t understand and have no way to “fix” or change, we must lean into them. After all, sometimes just taking the Light into dark territory for the Lord means the Enemy will put up an intense fight. Other times, our problems, when we haven’t been causing them ourselves, have a divine purpose to test and grow our faith, increase our endurance, and deepen our fellowship with the Lord. No matter what the trouble, the Lord has promised that our tears are not for nothing (Romans 8:28). In the end, it’s about realizing that though we can’t always choose our challenges, we can always choose our responses.
Complaining doesn’t change anything, and it sure doesn’t honor God. Share on XMilitary Tactics We Can Also Employ
Here are tips from those in the military from Military.com (and possible ways to apply them to the spiritual war as well).
- Acknowledge your feelings instead of repressing them.
(Bring everything out into the light and all your petitions to God, but don’t wallow in self-pity.) - Focus on what you can control and make problems work for you instead of against you.
(Ask the Lord to lead you and guide you, trust that He will, and then wait on Him.) - Create productive goals, asking yourself, “What meaning can I find in this?” or “How can this make me stronger?”
(Ask the Lord to show you how to use what He is teaching you to help others or prepare for a future assignment.) - Realize that this isn’t personal or permanent.
(Hard times don’t necessarily mean that we’re in trouble. Testing and pruning are both good things that hurt, but neither of them will last forever. 2 Corinthians 4:17 says that this world brings us a temporary “light affliction” compared to the exceeding and eternal weight of glory.) - Focus on helping others along the way.
(When seeking to bless others, so many times we bless ourselves in the process.) - Create a one-word cue for yourself when you start to mentally complain such as “Later!” — as in, see you later because I’m done talking.
(Remember our “LATER” — when the Lord comes to wipe every tear away.)
Analogies Are So Helpful
Honestly, the idea of counting trials as “all joy” has always made me want to roll my eyes. It’s a great idea in theory, but I didn’t see much connection with reality. Who can find joy in suffering? Who can be happy with pain? But as I look over the picture He has drawn of our lives in spiritual warfare, I think I am beginning to see what He means.
On hindsight, I HAVE spent time on the “floorboards of my bunker” praying for the victory He has won for me. And when the battle was done, I was able to bring new mindsets, new skills, and new faith to the next fight. The practical tips above are both encouraging and inspiring to me (and I hope to you as well!). May the Lord grant us grace to fight the good fight of faith until the Lord calls us Home.
If you like analogies and spiritual warfare, try Spiritual Warfare: A Defeated Foe. Or, try 5 Lessons About Spiritual Warfare from Boxing. Please sign up to receive my blog in your email inbox. You can find that at the upper right of your screen (or at the bottom on a phone). Also, check out my YouTube Channel where I read the blogs out loud.
Thank you sir ; i really needed to read this today.
jim