Soldiers Don't Expect Comfort; They Expect Battle! (Part 1 & 2)

The Call to Arms (Part 1)

In our modern age of convenience and comfort, the call to Christian discipleship often gets watered down to a mere lifestyle enhancement rather than the radical commitment it truly demands. We've become accustomed to soft cushions, homes, and lives carefully insulated from discomfort. Yet Scripture presents a starkly different picture of the Christian life—one that calls us not to ease, but to warfare; not to comfort, but to combat.

The Apostle Paul, writing under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, declares in 2 Timothy 2:3-4 (KJV): "Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier." Notice the military terminology Paul employs. He doesn't compare believers to tourists on a pleasant journey, nor to guests at a comfortable hotel. Rather, we are soldiers—enlisted in God's army, called to active service, and expected to face the rigours of spiritual warfare.

What does it mean to be a soldier of Jesus Christ?

First and foremost, it means accepting that hardship is not an exception but an expectation. Soldiers don't join the army hoping for leisure and luxury. They enlist knowing that training will be demanding, that deployments will be difficult, and that actual combat may require the ultimate sacrifice. Similarly, when Jesus called His disciples, He never promised them ease. In Matthew 16:24 (KJV), He declared: "If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me." The cross was an instrument of execution, not a comfortable recliner. Following Christ means embracing self-denial, sacrifice, and the willingness to suffer for His name's sake.

The Christian soldier must also understand that we are engaged in genuine warfare. Paul reminds us in Ephesians 6:12 (KJV): "For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places." Our battle is real, our enemy is formidable, and the stakes are eternal. This is not a game or a simulation—souls hang in the balance, and the forces of darkness are relentlessly working to undermine God's purposes and destroy His people.

Yet many believers today seem surprised when trials come, as though suffering were somehow incompatible with genuine faith. Peter addresses this very mindset in 1 Peter 4:12 (KJV): "Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you." Trials aren't strange occurrences for the Christian; they're the normal experience of those who truly follow Christ in a fallen world. When we face opposition, persecution, or hardship for righteousness' sake, we shouldn't be shocked—we should be prepared.

The soldier's mindset requires single-minded devotion to the mission. Paul's instruction that no soldier entangles himself with the affairs of this life speaks to the need for focus and commitment. This doesn't mean Christians should be irresponsible or neglect legitimate duties, but rather that our ultimate allegiance must be to Christ and His kingdom. The cares of this world, the deceitfulness of riches, and the pleasures of life can choke out spiritual fruitfulness just as surely as enemy fire can fell a distracted soldier (Mark 4:19, KJV).

Consider the example of the early church. These believers faced imprisonment, beatings, and martyrdom, yet they didn't retreat into comfortable religion. When threatened by the religious authorities, Peter and John boldly declared in Acts 4:19-20 (KJV): "Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye. For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard." They understood that following Christ meant obeying Him regardless of consequences—a soldier's commitment to duty over personal safety.

The question we must ask ourselves is this: have we enlisted as soldiers, or are we merely religious tourists seeking spiritual experiences without spiritual discipline? True soldiers train rigorously, maintaining physical fitness and combat readiness. Likewise, believers must maintain spiritual fitness through regular prayer, consistent Bible study, and active obedience to God's Word…

Soldiers Don't Expect Comfort; They Expect Battle! (Part 2)

From battlefield to faith: embracing hardship as soldiers of Christ in a comfort-seeking world…

Continuing our examination of the soldier's mindset, we must understand that spiritual warfare requires the right equipment. God hasn't sent us into battle unprepared. Paul describes our divine armament in Ephesians 6:13-17 (KJV): "Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God."

Notice that each piece of armour serves a specific purpose. The belt of truth anchors everything—without commitment to God's truth, nothing else holds together. The breastplate of righteousness protects our vital organs—our heart and our conscience must be guarded by righteous living. The shoes of the gospel's preparation keep us mobile and ready to advance—we must always be ready to share the good news. The shield of faith deflects the enemy's accusations and temptations—trusting God's promises protects us from doubt and despair. The helmet of salvation guards our minds—knowing our secure position in Christ prevents the enemy from deceiving us. And the sword of the Spirit—God's Word—is our offensive weapon, the means by which we actively combat error and advance truth.

But equipment alone doesn't make an effective soldier. Training and experience are essential. This is why God allows us to face trials and battles—they develop our spiritual strength and battle-readiness. James writes in James 1:2-4 (KJV): "My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing." Every battle we face, every trial we endure, serves to strengthen our faith and prepare us for greater conflicts ahead.

The soldier's mindset also requires understanding the chain of command. We don't fight according to our own strategies or preferences. Jesus declared in John 14:15 (KJV): "If ye love me, keep my commandments." Obedience isn't optional for the Christian soldier—it's the very essence of our service. When God's Word gives us clear direction, we don't debate or deliberate; we obey. This requires humility, surrender, and trust even when we don't understand the battle plan.

Furthermore, soldiers understand the concept of sacrifice. They willingly endure hardship, deprivation, and danger for a cause greater than themselves. Paul embodies this attitude in Philippians 1:21 (KJV): "For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain." When we truly embrace the soldier's mindset, we hold everything loosely—our comfort, our reputation, our very lives—knowing that Christ is worth infinitely more than anything this world offers.

The book of Hebrews encourages us with examples of faithful soldiers who went before us: "And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment: They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented; (Of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth" (Hebrews 11:36-38, KJV). These faithful warriors didn't seek comfort—they sought to honour God regardless of cost.

Yet we don't fight alone or in our own strength. God Himself empowers us for battle. Paul declares in Ephesians 6:10 (KJV): "Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might." Our strength comes from Him, not from ourselves. This is why prayer is so essential to spiritual warfare—through prayer, we access divine resources and align ourselves with God's purposes.

The soldier's mindset also includes confidence in ultimate victory. Though battles may be fierce and casualties may occur, we know the war's outcome is certain. Jesus declared in Matthew 16:18 (KJV): "I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it." Satan is a defeated foe, though he fights desperately in his remaining time. Christ has already won the decisive battle at Calvary and secured victory through His resurrection.

So what does this mean for us practically? It means we stop seeking the easy path and start embracing the narrow way. It means we stop complaining about difficulties and start viewing them as opportunities to prove our faithfulness. It means we stop being surprised by spiritual opposition and start expecting it as confirmation we're on the right path. It means we put on our armour daily, pick up our weapons, and march forward with courage and conviction.

Paul's final charge to Timothy rings true for every Christian soldier: "I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing" (2 Timothy 4:7-8, KJV). May we fight well, finish strong, and keep the faith. Soldiers don't expect comfort; they expect battle—and through Christ, they expect victory!

Key Takeaways:

• Embrace the soldier's mindset: Christians are called to be soldiers of Jesus Christ, not tourists seeking comfort. We must expect hardship, discipline, and spiritual warfare as normal aspects of our faith journey.
• Understand the reality of spiritual warfare: We wrestle against principalities, powers, and spiritual wickedness (Ephesians 6:12 KJV). Our battle is real, our enemy is formidable, and the stakes are eternal.
• Don't be surprised by trials: Fiery trials aren't strange occurrences but normal experiences for genuine followers of Christ (1 Peter 4:12 KJV). Opposition and hardship confirm we're on the right path.
• Maintain single-minded devotion: Soldiers don't entangle themselves with the affairs of this life. Our ultimate allegiance must be to Christ and His kingdom, avoiding worldly distractions that choke spiritual fruitfulness.
• Put on the full armour of God: We must daily equip ourselves with truth, righteousness, the gospel, faith, salvation, and God's Word (Ephesians 6:13-17 KJV) to withstand spiritual attacks.
• View trials as training: Every battle and trial develops our spiritual strength and battle-readiness, working patience and maturity in our faith (James 1:2-4 KJV).
• Obey the chain of command: Loving Christ means keeping His commandments (John 14:15 KJV). Obedience isn't optional—it's the essence of our service as Christian soldiers.
• Be willing to sacrifice: Soldiers endure hardship, deprivation, and danger for a cause greater than themselves. We must hold everything loosely, knowing Christ is worth infinitely more than worldly comfort.
• Fight in God's strength, not your own: Our strength comes from the Lord and the power of His might (Ephesians 6:10 KJV). Prayer connects us to divine resources and aligns us with God's purposes.
• Have confidence in ultimate victory: Though battles are fierce, the war's outcome is certain. Christ has already secured victory through Calvary and the resurrection (Matthew 16:18 KJV).