What Battles Are You Facing?

Joshua 6 is one of the most miraculous stories I have ever come across. The Israelites are about to go to battle in Jericho and overtake the city. But first, God commands the Israelites to march around Jericho for seven days. On the seventh day, they must walk around the city walls seven times blowing their trumpets in order for the city walls to fall down. The Israelites must have felt crazy. Like really? “For 7 days we are going to circle the city walls and then on the last day it is just going to fall down?” If I had been there, I think I would have doubted that this would work. But because they trusted God in faith, on the seventh day the Israelites walked around Jericho seven times. 

“So the people shouted, and the trumpets sounded. When they heard the blast of the trumpet, the people gave a great shout, and the wall collapsed. The people advanced into the city, each man straight ahead and they captured the city” Joshua 6:20

I feel like the walls of Jericho have surrounded me the past 18 months. I lost my grandmother to a nasty cancer, I tore my ACL, a relationship failed, friendships dwindled, my family struggled financially, anxiety got the best of me, and I have had to watch someone close to me battle addictions. There were so many days where I did not sense God was with me; I could not see Him and I did not think He was hearing me. 

Sort of like the walls of Jericho, I thought the walls would never fall down...

A few months ago I received a phone call from one of my best friends. He was telling me a story of a “crazy” night he just had… he had been partying a lot and getting into things I did not think were good for him.

I became so irritated and frustrated. This had become routine and I became fed up with it because I knew his heart, and I knew God had much better things in store for him.  As I was pondering our conversation God placed this story of Jericho on my heart. If the Israelites marched around Jericho and saw God perform a miracle, I could too.

So, instead of being angry, I decided I was going to “walk” around this “Jericho” by praying for him every day. 

Seven days later (God is funny that way) I was talking to this same friend on the phone. He told me about how some friends of his invited him to an event and he felt the presence of Jesus like never before. He had come to a realization of needing to live for Jesus, rather than of this world. I was stunned. 

Since then, this friend has been my greatest example of the power of Jesus. His life is transformed. The best parts of my day are now the moments we spend sharing what God is teaching us, and how we see Him working in our lives. His daily encouragement challenges me to fall deeper in love with Jesus. He holds me accountable, and is teaching me to trust Jesus with the many things that have been troubling me. Praise God!

This “Jericho” was hardly something that was even on my radar, but God showed up and surprised me. I saw first hand the power of His redemption; His deep love for us, and His grace has been on full display.

There are many “battles” that I feel like I’m facing all the time. There are still some days where I feel like the anxiety wins. The pain I feel from missing my beautiful grandmother is something I don’t ever expect to fully heal. There’s an internal fight to forgive those who have wronged me. My knee aches, and my heart hurts as I watch the people closest to me struggle.  

I am learning to pray about these things rather than worry about them; because in the midst of some of the hardest months of my life, God surprised me and performed a miracle. As a result of that I am certain that the next miracle is right around the corner.  He loves me, He sees me, He hears me and He is guiding me.  

My prayer is that we would have faith to surround these “battles” as the Israelites did around Jericho.

I pray that we would have the courage to to pray impossible prayers, and the confidence to follow God, even if he asks us to walk around a city 7 times blowing trumpets! The walls of Jericho may fall down in one week, it may take months, maybe years, but in Jesus name and according to His timing, whatever your Jericho is, the walls will fall down. 

Chrissy Baird

I am redshirt junior on the basketball team at UCLA but I grew up in Wheaton, Illinois. My heart is torn between Midwest hospitality and West Coast spontaneity. I love the Bruins, drinking excessive amounts of coffee, laughing so hard I hurt, cheering on subpar Chicago sports teams, breakfast for dinner, and the way people’s eyes light up when they talk about the things they’re passionate about. I am on an unbelievable journey, paved by grace. I am so honored and so excited to share a piece of my heart with you!