"Angel Armies & Midnight Missions: When Your Story Feels Like a Siege

    

Missionary John G. Paton

Ever feel like you're surrounded? Not by well-meaning friends bearing casserole dishes and well wishes. Instead you feel surrounded by a hostile force, a looming dread that threatens to consume everything you know or love? Yeah...me neither, well not in a literal since that is. However I have had moments in my life when I felt I could not breath, and life seemed overwhelming. I have been in some situations in my life that I did not know how I was ever going to make it. 

    But imagine this: you're a missionary, deep in the South Pacific, and a war party of angry locals has encircled your humble headquarters, torches flickering, intent on making you and your family a human bonfire. 

    That's exactly what John G. Paton faced. One night, the air thick with menace, he and his wife did the only thing they could: they prayed. Not a casual "bless this mess" kind of prayer, but a deep, desperate plea for divine intervention. The kind of prayer you pray when your life depends on it, because for John, it really did. There was no time for anything less than serious earnest prayer. 

    And here's where it gets good. The next morning, the would-be attackers were gone. Vanished. Poof! Like a bad dream chased away by the sunrise. But why? There was no reason why they were not attacked. It would be like playing chess, being out witted for the entire game and knowing you are going to lose this match. Only to find your opponent decided to make his first mistake and decided to make a move that causes him to lose the match.  

    Fast forward a year, and the tribal chief, now a believer, visits John one day. He reveals the chilling truth behind this odd turn of events: they had surrounded the mission, ready to strike. But then, they saw something that made their blood run cold – an army of giant men, clad in shining armor, swords drawn, guarding the mission. Angels. Real, live, sword-wielding angels.

    Think about that for a moment. In the midst of utter peril, God sent a celestial army. It's like something out of a biblical blockbuster. And it wasn't just a dramatic rescue; it was a divine invitation, a sign that led the chief to faith.

    We often read these stories in the Bible – Daniel in the lion's den, Peter in prison – and we see the grand finale. But when we're in our own "siege," we don't have the luxury of flipping to the next page or  the final chapter. We're stuck in the middle, wondering, "How will this end?"

Isn't that's where faith steps in? Is that not what having an unwavering trust that God is working everything out? A faith in God's provision and protection even when we can't see it. As Corrie ten Boom so eloquently put it, "Never be afraid to trust an unknown future to a known God." I love that, don't you?

    It's easy to have faith when the sun is shining, and life is going great. True faith, however is forged in the fires of adversity. It's the kind of faith that clings to God's promises even when the storm rages. This faith is not a blind leap, but a confident step based on God's character and past faithfulness.

    Consider Psalm 138:7, "Though I walk in the midst of trouble, you preserve my life; you stretch out your hand against the wrath of my enemies, and your right hand delivers me." This psalm, attributed to David, wasn't written from a place of theoretical theology. David did not compose this Psalm having lived in the lap of luxury. On the contrary, David lived a life marked by trials – fleeing from Saul, facing rebellions, and enduring personal tragedies. He knew what it meant to walk "in the midst of trouble." His words are not mere poetry; they are a testament to his lived experience, a declaration of God's consistent deliverance. 

    David's confidence stemmed from his intimate relationship with God. He saw God's hand in his life, rescuing him from countless dangers. It's this intimate knowledge, that allowed him to trust even in the darkest of times and in the most dire of circumstances. 

    We see this same sentiment echoed in Isaiah 43:2, "When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze." It's not that we won't face trials, but that God promises to be with us in them. 

    So, while you may not ever find yourself surrounded by a large group of hostile enemies standing ready to take your life at the tip of their spear. You may never find yourself enduring trials and tribulation like that of King David. Never the less, when you find yourself in a difficult and precarious situation, you can always call on the Lord in prayer. You can seek God and you can be assured that, though you may never see it, God's protection and provision will surround you. 

Practical Applications:

1. Prayer as a Lifeline: When you feel surrounded, make prayer your first line of defense. Not just a quick sentence, but a heartfelt conversation with God, laying out your fears and needs. Think of it as activating your direct line to the divine bodyguard. Spend extended time in prayer, and remember that God hears your heart.
2. Remember the "Angel Armies": Keep a journal of God's past deliverances in your life. When fear creeps in, revisit those stories. Remind yourself that God has been faithful before, and He will be faithful again. These "angel armies" are evidence of God's constant care. Write down specific instances, and reflect on how God worked in those situations.
3. Find Your "Chief" and "David": Share your struggles with a trusted friend or mentor, and seek out the wisdom of others who have walked through similar trials. Just like the chief shared his story, and like we read the stories of David, we need to share ours and learn from others to help see Gods faithfulness. Seek advice from those who have a deep faith and who have experienced Gods deliverance.

    Remember, even in the darkest nights, when the enemy seems to have the upper hand, God's army is bigger, brighter, and more powerful. And sometimes, just sometimes, they show up with swords. Hold firm in the fire, and trust that God is with you, guiding you through.gh.