Life so often feels like a battlefield. Pressures close in, responsibilities pile high, and overwhelming emotions swell until they feel impossible to manage. In those moments, so many of us exhaust ourselves by pushing harder, trying to control every outcome and fix every problem. But Scripture invites us into a different kind of strength—one that begins not by standing tall, but by kneeling low. This is the surprising power of fighting on our knees.
Before facing any struggle, it helps to pause. When we intentionally breathe, slow down, and create stillness, we calm the noise inside us. Sometimes all it takes is something as simple as inhaling deeply, holding the breath, and releasing it slowly—like a quiet reset button for the soul. In that moment of stillness, we can invite God into the struggle by praying,
“Lord, I feel surrounded. But I choose to kneel. I choose to trust. I choose to fight with faith.”
This posture will undoubtedly feel counterintuitive. We tend to picture strength the way we see it in movies—like gladiators marching into an arena, muscles flexed and voices raised. But the Christian perspective flips that image upside down. Our greatest battles aren’t fought with visible weapons. They are fought in the unseen places—in our hearts, minds, and spirits. Stress, fear, anxiety, anger, and despair are real forces, and they succeed in defeating us most easily when we try to handle them alone.
The apostle Paul understood this firsthand. Near the end of his life, he wrote, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, and I have remained faithful” (2 Timothy 4:7 NLT).
Paul’s strength didn’t come from personal grit or determination alone. It came from a life anchored in prayer, humility, and total dependence on God. Faith was his endurance. Prayer was his posture.
So many of us try to fight our battles in our own strength—working harder, worrying more, doubling down on effort. But God offers a far better way. Scripture reminds us again and again that victory comes not from striving but from surrender. King Jehoshaphat faced a massive army he knew he could not defeat, but God told him, “Do not be afraid! Don’t be discouraged by this mighty army, for the battle is not yours, but God’s” (2 Chronicles 20:15 NLT). This is such a powerful reminder that the weight we carry is not meant to rest on our shoulders alone.
In another pivotal moment of fear and uncertainty, Moses told the Israelites, “The Lord himself will fight for you. Just stay calm” (Exodus 14:14 NLT). Do not confuse stillness as weakness—it is not, it is trust. It is the choice to stop grasping for control and allow God to move in the places we cannot.
God not only fights for us, He cares deeply for us. “The Lord hears his people when they call to him for help. He rescues them from all their troubles” (Psalm 34:17 NLT). When we cry out in desperation, He does not shame us for being overwhelmed. Instead, He meets us in our vulnerability and begins to lift what we cannot carry.
This posture of kneeling in surrender and prayer can also trigger peace—real, protective, stabilizing peace. Paul writes, “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand” (Philippians 4:6–7 NLT). This peace acts like armor, protecting our hearts and minds from the anxiety that tries to consume us.
Jesus Himself teaches us that it is more powerful to seek intimacy with God rather than performing spirituality for others. “But when you pray, go away by yourself, shut the door behind you, and pray to your Father in private. Then your Father, who sees everything, will reward you” (Matthew 6:6 NLT). Prayer is not about eloquence or public display—it is about connection.
Paul echoes this when he encourages believers: “Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil” (Ephesians 6:10–11 NLT). He’s reminding us that strength doesn’t come from pretending to have it all together but from leaning on God’s power.
In the end, fighting on our knees is not giving up. It is choosing a strength that the world does not, and cannot understand—strength that is shaped by humility, grounded in trust, and overflowing with peace. Strength that has the courage to say, “God, I can’t fight this alone,” and the faith to believe that He already knows the way through.
When life feels like a battle, we need to remember that we are never left to face it alone. Prayer reminds us that God is near, that He is fighting for us, and that He is faithful even when the outcome is unclear. On our knees, we are never defeated. On our knees, we are strongest of all.
Blessings on you and yours, Jim Black
P.S. if you’d like to read previous ruminations of mine they can be found at https://blog.salvationarmyconcordca.org