Day 9

The Shield of Faith

from the The Armor of God reading plan


Ephesians 6:10-20, 1 John 5:1-13, 1 Samuel 2:8-10, Psalm 7:10, Ephesians 2:1-10, Hebrews 11:1 

BY Bailey T. Hurley

The shield, a soldier’s primary defense, was made from wood and covered in linen or leather. Roman soldiers would also lock their shields together to defend themselves against their enemies as a unit. Throughout Scripture, God is referred to as a shield, and faith in Him serves as protection for us as individuals and as the people of God. 


I was fourteen, sitting in a musty old chapel in the middle of the woods, when it became clear to me that Jesus Christ is the real deal. That evening, like many who attended church camps as a youth, I decided to follow Jesus. There wasn’t some life-changing sermon or an altar call, but a slow progression to trusting God with my life. I came home that week and my mom told me, “You walked in the door and there was a light glowing around you. I knew you would never be the same.” She was right. God, “being rich in mercy,” made me alive again through Jesus Christ by faith (Ephesians 2:4–10).

Yet faith is not a one-time commitment. After I entrusted my life to Jesus, I still struggled with various attacks, specifically on my identity. Being a teenage girl is hard. Bodies and social hierarchies are changing, and it was challenging to not let others steal my worth from me. I wanted to believe and trust who God said I was, but it was hard to ignore the influences around me. I needed an active faith to protect me from those attacks. 

In Ephesians 6, we are called “In every situation [to] take up the shield of faith with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one” (Ephesians 6:16). Faith is a daily practice that helps us douse the doubt around us. 

My battle of belief comes from a fear of doubting my value in Jesus—am I good enough for God? For you, it may be your children, your marriage, your physical health, your finances, your church, your mental health, or your beliefs that feel attacked. Any one of these things requires us to take up the shield of faith and trust in God to deliver us. 

As women who believe in God we can hold tightly to this truth: “Everyone who has been born of God conquers the world. This is the victory that has conquered the world: our faith” (1John 5:4). 

God will fight for us as we trust in Him and His timing. Faith is scary because it requires risk. We aren’t promised an exact time and day for relief from the enemy’s arrows. But “faith is the reality of what is hoped for, the proof of what is not seen” (Hebrews 11:1). Faith is taking the step forward, an action-oriented obedience, to trust God and believe He is “guard[ing] the steps of his faithful ones” (1Samuel 2:9).

Post Comments (53)

53 thoughts on "The Shield of Faith"

  1. Lori Lackey says:

    I am needing to take on the shield of faith to love others well.

  2. Susie H says:

    REBECCA LEEK I have wondered that before. My theory is the different typeface allows the whole verse to be viewed at one time on the screen. At least that is the case for me. If that isn’t it, just chalk it up to another quirk of this app! Have a great day.

  3. Mudrock Mama says:

    Beth Moore captured the shield of faith so well it sticks with me. Just as the devotional does at the end. It talks about ‘action-oriented’ faith. If you want the shield of faith, every time you obey God picture a shield going up and protecting you from the enemy’s fiery darts.

  4. Leigh Gorham says:

    KIMBERLY ZIEHL – thank you for your
    vulnerability yesterday. I know you have likely heard it said countless times, but the truth remains: you are whole right where you are. You are abundantly effective for His Kingdom in this time, untethered. I know how lonely that can feel. Yet I give God such glory for my single-hood time because it is so precious and unique.
    It isn’t spoken of enough in churches and
    devotionals – the powerful stories of how God used the single man and woman throughout Scripture. Even so, your feelings are seen. They are valid. He notices you and I promise, has a specific plan for you. My prayer is that you stand tall during this time, assured of your unique place in His body. How divinely equipped you are as His hands and feet. Right in this moment. I pray, too, that He fill your heart with the secure knowledge of your worth and of
    His power to fill your soul. To allow His
    wholeness to wash over you until you do not
    feel an ounce of “less”. Lastly, should marriage be His plan for you in the future, please rest secure in His perfect timing. He know when your future husband will be ready to meet you, and you, him – if that is God’s will. I didn’t seek marriage for many reason, for decades.
    My first relationship in life? I was 35. (I am not counting a middle school boy (2) I met the only man I’ve ever truly loved. I did brave the unknown and we were married when I was 38. I have a beautiful, soon to be 2 year old and I will be 40 next month (which sounds hilarious to say – because I live and look 33 still!). My timing was absolutely perfect. I would not have wanted any other story, than the one He gave me, for it is
    beautiful. If my husband and I had met any
    earlier in either of our lives, we wouldn’t have come together. Timing really is everything.
    Our growth as individuals allowed for this amazing life we chose together, to work and flourish.
    I love you sister and truly see you. You are not alone and your feelings are validated and seen. I hope these words are if any comfort to your soul. If you ever need to talk, I am here. Truly.
    Sending you love and hugs.

  5. Stormi Messmer says:

    ❤️

  6. Tasha SANTIAGO says:

    Powerful. 1Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.

  7. Kimberly Ziehl says:

    Loved this reading tonight. As a girl who just turned 30 and still has not found her husband there are so many days it seems like it will never happen for me. I feel guilty letting such a thing bother me when people have truly deeper issues to be dealing with. None the less it is something I struggle to remind myself to remember god wants you to be strong in this weary times whether your problem is minor or not. I pray one day I’ll look back on this trial and laugh. God always knows what he’s doing.

    1. Diane Mom says:

      Keep welding that shield of faith. And from my perspective, an aging grandmother whom Good has blessed with children and grandchildren, yours is not a minor problem. Trust Him and walk in the good way He has for you. He will constantly be bringing you closer to Himself!

  8. Dana Cook says:

    Thank you for the devotional on the shield of faith.❤️

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