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b'Preparing for battle was an odious task, but, as a Christian, I had all the armor I needed. My \\xe2\\u20ac\\u0153Pull yourself up by your bootstraps\\xe2\\u20ac\\x9d shoes kept my feet safe from shrapnel on the ground. \\xe2\\u20ac\\u0153For I know the plans I have for you\\xe2\\u20ac\\x9d protected my right arm while \\xe2\\u20ac\\u0153Plans to prosper you\\xe2\\u20ac\\x9d shielded the right. I happily donned my helmet of \\xe2\\u20ac\\u0153Rejoice in all things\\xe2\\u20ac\\x9d and my breastplate of \\xe2\\u20ac\\u0153God loves a happy heart.\\xe2\\u20ac\\x9d My shield of \\xe2\\u20ac\\u0153Be strong and courageous\\xe2\\u20ac\\x9d completed the ensemble, and I was ready for anything. No pain or hurt would get me today!\\nI shuffled slowly out of my house, weighed down by my armor but ready for anything. A few minor inconveniences tried to make their way through, but I deflected them with ease. Insults from my classmates glanced right off. A failing grade? That won\\u2019t bring me down! I was encased in my walking fortress, and nothing could get to me.\\nMy armor almost slipped when I got home and heard my parents bickering, but I tightened it quickly. I\\u2019d gotten good at that lately\\u2014it was a reflex now. After all, I had to stay safe from the pain. God wouldn\\u2019t want me to be sad.\\n\\xe2\\u20ac\\u0153We need to talk.\\xe2\\u20ac\\x9d I lifted my shield.\\n\\xe2\\u20ac\\u0153You know how Grandma\\u2019s been sick lately?\\xe2\\u20ac\\x9d I cringed, glancing at the dents in my armor that her sickness had caused. That had almost gotten through.\\nDad sighed. \\xe2\\u20ac\\u0153I\\u2026I\\u2019m sorry. I don\\u2019t know how to say this\\u2026Grandma passed away today. I\\u2019m really sorry.\\xe2\\u20ac\\x9d\\n\\u201cNo\\u2026No!,\\u201d I thought. I retreated to my room, running from this attack, from the pain. I yanked at the straps on my armor, desperate to tighten them. But no matter how hard I pulled, I could feel my armor getting looser.\\nMy eyes blurred with tears, but I felt someone gently tug at my breastplate until it clattered to the ground. A dart of pain pricked my heart. I felt the gauntlets on my arms being loosened and the shoes sliding off of my feet. My grip on my shield began to relax, and it was taken from my hands. As more sorrow snuck into my heart, I collapsed down onto the floor, trying to catch a glimpse of this person through my eye slits.\\nFinally, the helmet lifted off my head, and there He was.\\nJesus, weeping. \\u2022 Taylor Eising\\n\\u2022 In today\\u2019s story, the main character puts on his own armor, sometimes even taking Scripture out of context to justify half-truths about God. Read Ephesians 6:10-19. What is God\\u2019s armor? How does His armor show we need to depend on Him, not ourselves?\\n\\u2022 In building his own armor, the main character references some verses or ideas from verses, including Joshua 1:9, Jeremiah 29:11, and Philippians 4:4. The main issue is with the way this character uses those verses, because he assumes (1) he will never experience suffering or (2) he must be happy even while facing suffering. Sometimes, Scripture can be misused and misunderstood to make it seem like we should never be sad, but that\\u2019s not true. Jesus laments the brokenness in this world, and He calls us to do the same. Through the psalms, God\\u2019s people lament before Him when they are facing the deep hurt of this broken world. Read Romans 8:23-26, 34, Hebrews 4:14-16, and 1 Peter 5:7. How and why can we bring our pain to Jesus instead of hiding from it? \\n\\u2022 One day, Jesus will return to get rid of all sin, suffering, brokenness, and death, so we won\\u2019t need to lament any more (Revelation 21:1-5). How does that truth provide comfort in hard times? \\n\\u2022 We are called to be joyful, but we aren\\u2019t always called to be happy. What is the difference between joy and happiness? How does Jesus provide us with joy? \\n\\u2022 How can ignoring our pain lead to more pain?\\nThe Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. Psalm 34:18 (NIV)\\n\\xa0\\nRead Verses:\\nLuk'