F-I-G-H-T!

2020 is a year that I don’t think any of us will ever forget. At the height of the pandemic, it felt as though we were under attack by a virus that waged war on both our physical and mental health, resulting in countless casualties. For many, the world as we knew it fell apart, forcing us into a definitive moment of choice: fight, flight, freeze or fawn. Perhaps it was not the pandemic for you, but rather a different, immense shift at another point in your life that demanded that same difficult decision.

I want to remind you of Ephesians 6:10-18, which instructs us to put on the full armor of God so that we can stand against the devil’s schemes. The scripture details the essential components of our spiritual defense: the Belt of Truth, the Breastplate of Righteousness, the Shoes of the Gospel of Peace, the Shield of Faith, the Helmet of Salvation, the Sword of the Spirit, and the constant power of prayer. The armor of God is designed to protect us and provides a play-by-play guide on how to fight. We must recognize that you do not need armor unless you are going to war. As the text teaches, our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, authorities, and powers of this dark world, and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 

In 2020, my family and I experienced a profound, cosmic shift—the kind of upheaval that breaks marriages, confuses children, and reinforces generational patterns. In the midst of a global pandemic and what felt like a life-ending tsunami, I was forced to choose: fight, flight, freeze or fawn. Ladies, this is a battle cry. As women, we do not have the option to freeze or take flight; we are called to fight! We must fight for our children, our husbands, our homes, our physical and mental health, and our autonomy. I believe that God places an unmatched "fighter spirit" within women. We know that the enemy is active with an agenda to destroy homes and families, often targeting the gatekeeper. If the gatekeeper leaves her post, the gate becomes vulnerable.

Despite the numbing pain, I chose to fight. I continue to fight because too much is at stake, and I am far too afraid of the alternative. I knew that if I did not stand my ground, this trauma and the impact would haunt my husband, my children, and generations to come. I have armored up and prepared for a full-scale battle against an enemy whose plan was to annihilate my family. However, I move forward with the knowledge that God has other plans.

I encourage you to stay at your post, stand firm and fight!

~Line Osias-Cayenne