Ancient Sayings

“How are you?” he said, finding his place beside me.

“Girding my loins,” I replied with a yawn.

We laughed at the ancient phrase but didn’t delve into why I’d said it.  It was early, still dark outside.  We were setting the tone for the day, each of us, with a Bible in one hand and coffee in the other.  This routine of quietly sitting together as the sun creeps into the room has evolved over time, albeit inconsistently. In recent years, though, it has become an ingrained lifeline for us as we continue to navigate grief and life’s challenges.

That comment I’d made about “girding my loins”? It had to do with me being in a slump, a writing slump, specifically.  A part of me argues, “What does it matter if I write or not?” It’s not a job; no one is counting on me to do it. The effort and time it takes is more than I had ever anticipated. How can something that frustrates me so much be what I’m meant to do?

And yet, a still small voice challenges, “Yes, but didn’t God call you to this?” As I reflect, I know this is true.

***

When God calls us to a task, it holds deep, eternal value, and we can anticipate facing opposition. 

Do you have questions about God’s leading, especially when obstacles arise, and the path ahead seems unclear? Our calling may be challenging and difficult, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t part of God’s plan for our lives. In times of uncertainty, we often reach the end of ourselves and become more dependent on God, which is a good place to be.

Whether our challenges are minor or significant, it can be enough for some of us to drop our gifts and walk away from our calling. Our time on earth is more important than we often realize, and a battle wages over how we spend it.  Ephesians 5 tells us to live wisely, not foolishly, and make the most of every opportunity because the days are evil. 

Making the most of our days involves preparation, like the woman in Proverbs 31. She isn’t messing around: ” She girdeth her loins with strength and strengthens her arms.”  She knows that her day will hold challenges; what day doesn’t? The phrase “girding the loins” is frequently mentioned in the Bible and refers to preparing oneself for hard work or service. In biblical times, people would tuck their tunics up by their waist so their legs could move freely. 

In Ephesians 6, we learn about the importance of preparing ourselves each day with the armor of God and girding our loins with truth. God understands that we encounter discouragement and gives us wisdom through His word to navigate these challenges. In the summer, we apply repellant to protect ourselves from mosquitoes; a football player gears up for the expected hits, so why wouldn’t we prepare ourselves spiritually? 

Suiting up, girding our loins, and preparing for the day is key to living out our calling. Proverbs 5:23 reminds us to “guard our hearts above all else, for it determines the course of our lives.” When a thought arises, we can pay attention to whether it aligns with scripture. Is it true? Is it a lie? Is it rooted in fear?   What we mull over matters.  I’ve experienced this first hand; when I entertain negative thoughts, it becomes difficult to pick up the pen and do the work that God has for me. Emerson understood this truth too.

“Sow a thought and you reap an action; sow an act and you reap a habit: sow a habit and you reap a character; sow a character and you reap a destiny” – Ralph Waldo Emerson.

I am such a work in progress, and I am writing this cautiously. I don’t know your story or your struggles.  But I know that God has planned our lives – beginning to end, determined our days (Psalm 139), and created us for good things to do. Eph 2:10.  

So, pay attention to that ancient saying and find your tunic tails, gird them around your waist, and prepare yourself to do the good that is planned for you.  A multitude in heaven is cheering you on, and I am, too.