Shield of Faith

Among all the pieces of armor Paul describes, the shield receives special emphasis because it is designed to defend against sudden and unexpected attacks. Every follower of Christ will face moments when doubts arise, fears grow, temptations intensify, and circumstances seem to contradict God’s promises. In these moments, Paul teaches that faith is the shield God has provided. Faith becomes the believer’s God-given defense against the enemy’s assaults. While a soldier might wear his breastplate and helmet at all times, the shield was something he actively picked up when battle was at hand. In the same way, we are called to actively take up faith, trusting God in the midst of our struggles and using it to extinguish the fiery arrows aimed at our hearts and minds.