Daily devotional, December 8, 2023 Bite the bullet
"Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."
Isaiah 41:10
The phrase “biting the bullet” is often usedd in situations where a person has no choice but to go through something dangerous, unsafe, or painful either physically or emotionally. The term was coined during the war period when injured soldiers had to go through surgery in the battlefield without anaesthetic. During those times, field doctors had to give their patients a bullet to bite so that they could clench their teeth on it amid bullet removal, wound care, suturing, and even amputations.
Going through pain is something every person is familiar with. Whether it is physical pain, emotional pain, or personal struggle, each person has a story to tell. As Christians, we are not immune to problems and personal crises. But like those brave, injured soldiers, we can hold on to something that could help us go through all of it — our faith.
The famous and often claimed bible passage in King David’s Psalm 23 speaks of the dark valleys people may see themselves in. But as the Psalm says, as long as we are with the Good Shepherd, we can rest assure that we will be free from the fear of evil, and we will get through the perilous journey in one-piece:
"Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff,they comfort me."
(Psalm 23:4)
The Lord promises that as long as we abide in Him, we can hold on to him tight as we traverse dangerous twists and turns in our life journey:
"But the eyes of the LORD are on those who fear him, on those whose hope is in his unfailing love, to deliver them from death and keep them alive in famine. We wait in hope for the LORD; he is our help and our shield."
Psalm 33:18-20
A stark opposite of biting the bullet in writhing pain is numbness while going through life’s battles. The enemy offers numbing alternatives to the pain of suffering: drugs, alcohol, immorality, consumerism, gambling, and other forms of addiction and escape. In worst cases, the enemy even presents suicide as the solution to the pain and trouble. These however are all counterintuitive, and will result in more problems in the long run. To this, St. Peter reminds us:
"Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world."
1 Peter 5:8-9
When going through difficult times, we should know whom to turn to. We should anchor our faith on the one true God who promises to never leave us nor forsake us.
"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go."
Joshua 1:9
When undergoing personal challenges, we should stop comparing ourselves to others. By doing so we will just dig our hole deeper. We should refrain from focusing on superficial things curated by worldly personalities and peddled through social media. When we are led by the Good Shepherd, dark valleys will never be our final destination, it will just be one of those inevitable paths in our life journey.
Thank you for reading through our devotional today. I invite you to ponder on 1 Peter 5:6-10 and Psalm 23 to dig deeper on today’s topic.
Reflection Question: Are you going through dark valleys right now? Where do you anchor your soul so you will not get lost?
Conversation with the Lord: Heavenly Father, thank you for being my anchor at times of distress. Allow me to hold on to you always, and help me claim your promise that you will never leave me nor forsake me. Amen.