Real Hope: Armour of GodÀpẹrẹ

## Standing Firm When you read this verse in our modern context, you might ask yourself, What truth? My truth? Their truth? The world’s truth? The shifting truths of mainstream opinion? In this chapter of Ephesians, we’re given a picture of the armour of God – a way of ‘dressing’ ourselves every day that keeps us anchored in our faith. The belt of truth, we’re told, affects our ability to stand firm – so we really want to know then what ‘truth’ we’re supposed to be standing in. We also have to realise that without truth our stance is compromised. And by that I don’t mean our viewpoint on certain issues, but the way we stand in the world. Confidence comes from being emboldened by truth. It’s when we believe lies that we stumble, feel lost, and lack clarity in our value and purpose. Thankfully, in a society where truth has become increasingly moveable and adjusted to popular vote, John 14:6 tells us what ‘truth’ we can have eternal dependency on when Jesus says, ‘I am the way and the truth and the life.’ The ‘truth’ Christians hold to is a person, not a viewpoint or feeling. It is a truth that sits above variations in our circumstances, leaders, moods and current offences. When you feel yourself getting shaky and wondering what you can hold on to in unsettling times, remember Jesus’ truth doesn’t change with the trends: He will always be offering an open invitation for the lost to find hope, the lonely to find community and the fearful to find faith. #### Written by LAURA BENNETT