The Echelon: Spiritual Opposition When You're Trying to Make a Difference
A Cycling Devotional
In cycling, an echelon is a tactical formation where riders line up diagonally to block strong crosswind. It's used defensively to protect against competitors. On one hand, it's brilliant strategy. On the other hand, it's designed to stop the other team from advancing.
Spiritually, this is what opposition feels like.
You're trying to share your faith at work, and suddenly it seems like every conversation gets shut down. You're trying to start a ministry, and unexpected obstacles appear. You're trying to witness to someone, and something always interrupts. It feels like there's a spiritual echelon blocking your advance.
Ephesians 6:12 says: "For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms."
There are forces working against your spiritual advance. Not imaginary. Real opposition.
1 Peter 5:8 says: "Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour."
Opposition. Real. The echelon is trying to stop you.
But here's what's important: the echelon is a defensive tactic. It's not offense. The riders forming the echelon are reacting to your threat. They wouldn't bother blocking you if you weren't a threat. The opposition you feel means you're actually making a difference. You're actually advancing spiritually.
2 Timothy 2:3 says: "Join with me in suffering, like a good soldier of Christ Jesus."
Suffering. Opposition. That's part of following Jesus. If you're not experiencing opposition, maybe you're not being threatening enough to the enemy.
Proverbs 27:12 says: "The prudent see danger and take refuge, but the simple keep going and pay the penalty."
See the opposition. Understand it. But keep going. Don't let the echelon stop you.
Tomorrow's Practice: This week, you'll likely experience spiritual opposition – difficulty sharing faith, obstacles to ministry, resistance to your witness. When you feel that echelon blocking you, recognize it for what it is: evidence that you're a threat to the enemy. Don't get discouraged. Keep advancing. The opposition actually confirms you're moving in the right direction.
Reflection Question: When you experience opposition to your faith or witness, do you back off or do you recognize it as evidence that you're making a spiritual difference and keep advancing?