The Fight

“Go fight someone else!” 2 Samuel 2:21

In Chapter two of 2 Samuel one of David’s troops, Asahel, is attempting to chase down Abner, the commander of Saul’s army. Now this is after David’s army defeated Abner and his army (2 Samuel 2:17). However, Asahel turned this battle into a personal pursuit. Abner warns him over and over to stop pursuing him and to “go fight someone else!” (2 Samuel 2:21) Asahel refuses and Abner is forced to kill him.

Asahel’s enemy was ready to admit defeat and end the battle. However, he was so blinded by the thrill of the chase and his personal agenda that he wasn’t able to recognize that victory was already his. He wanted to continue a battle that he’d already won.

This scripture got me thinking.

Perhaps, some of the things we are fighting have already surrendered to us but we’ve gotten so caught up in the chase of our “battle” that we’re not willing to accept the “easy out.” We are not content with being in a position to stop fighting and simply walk away.

This might be due to pride or the need to prove a point.

Or could it be that we’ve allowed something we were to have victory over to become our identity?

To be honest, this is something I had to ask myself. God had already restored my confidence. So, why was I still fighting the battles of the little girl with low self-esteem?

For so long, I accepted the identity of the “shy girl.” So, I embodied the characteristics of what a “shy girl” should be. This girl doesn’t like any attention whatsoever. She shies away from the spotlight. She keeps her gifts and talents to herself. She doesn’t speak up in meetings. She downplays what God can do through her.

But where did this stem from? This stemmed from being bullied at a young age, which led to low self-esteem…and then walking into the box of a “shy girl” and setting up camp. I had to look at the root of this identity. The root of this identity was low self-esteem.

However, as I began to really grow in my relationship with Jesus, I began to gain confidence. My roots had changed! My identity (and your identity) is now rooted in a relationship with Jesus Christ. And, honey, low self-esteem doesn’t grow from those roots!

This new identity had a different purpose. The Lord was putting ideas and desires in me that would require me to come out of my shell. At first, I resisted. I was Asahel. I was still trying to fight a battle (or identity) that God had already given me victory over. God had already given me confidence but I was still acting as though I were the little girl battling low self-esteem.

So, let me ask you this…Or rather, challenge you to ask yourself.

What battle are you still fighting that you’ve already overcome?

What identity are you still trying to operate in that you’ve already outgrown?

Listen, God has already delivered you from your “Egypt.” Stop acting as though you’re still trying to break free. You are no longer in your “fighting” season. It is okay to rest and retreat.

I pray you don’t die fighting a battle that you’ve already won. You have so much more to do. Start focusing on what’s ahead, love. Go fight someone (or something) else!