Once in a Blue Moon

You’ve heard the phrase once in a blue moon before, right? A blue moon is the second full moon in a single month. It isn’t actually blue, but it is fairly rare. That’s where the phrase comes from. It means something rare is happening. Something to take note of. I’m not sure we need more uncommon circumstances in 2020, but we’re in for several this week.

This weekend we’ll have our second full moon of the month, a blue moon, on Halloween. Many of us will experience a time change, and hurricane Zeta is making landfall in Louisiana – a state that has already been hit by Laura and Delta. This storm will affect many people across numerous states. Oh, and there’s an asteroid heading toward earth the day before the election. Scientists say there isn’t a threat to the US because of it, but hey, it is 2020 so you never know!

Add into that an election that has people on edge, an illness that continues to impact lives across the world, riots and protests across the nation, wildfires and droughts and early snowfalls… What in tarnation is happening?!

In many ways, we’ve found ourselves in the perfect storm. I don’t know how many times I’ve heard, “Can 2020 be over now?” I’ve said it myself! It feels as if this is a year of disaster and upheaval. And in many ways, it is.

But God!

It can be easy to forget about God when life piles on and then piles on some more. We get so overwhelmed trying to survive the storm that we forget the God who can calm the storm. Jesus’ disciples forgot too. When they found themselves in the midst of a horrible storm they feared for their lives, forgetting all of the miracles they had already witnessed.

“Jesus was sleeping at the back of the boat with his head on a cushion. The disciples woke him up, shouting, ‘Teacher, don’t you care that we’re going to drown?’ When Jesus woke up, he rebuked the wind and said to the waves, ‘Silence! Be still!’ Suddenly the wind stopped, and there was a great calm.” ~Mark 4:38-39 (NLT)

Jesus calmed the storm for His disciples and He can calm the storms in our lives too. All we need to do is cry out to Him for help. #faithoverfear

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2020 reminds me that “we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places” (Ephesians 6:12). The devil is having a heyday in our world, but we know that He has already been defeated. God has allowed him influence for a time and he is making the most of it. But his rule will come to an end and he’ll get what’s been promised to him.

So how do we endure? How do we survive his attacks and the chaos the devil and his minions create in our world? Ephesians 6:13-18 tells us exactly what to do.

“Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm. Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness. For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared. In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil. Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere.”

God has given us spiritual armor and weapons for such a time as this. We may feel like what we’re experiencing is a once in a blue moon experience, but Ecclesiastes 1:8-9 reminds us that others have experienced challenging times too. It reads, “Everything is wearisome beyond description. No matter how much we see, we are never satisfied. No matter how much we hear, we are not content. History merely repeats itself. It has all been done before. Nothing under the sun is truly new.”

Other people in history have felt what we’re feeling and they got through it. We will too. We are closer to the end days than they were, but their endurance should bring us comfort and spur us on to fight our battles with the Lord by our side. So gear up, warriors. Pray for our world, pray for all believers everywhere, and stand firm in Jesus Christ.

Has the armor of God helped you? I’d love to hear how! Do you have questions about the armor of God? Drop me a comment and I’ll try to answer your question in a future blog post.

Until next time,

Josie