In the above passage, it`s significant to understand that "strongholds" are developed in the mind as a means for keeping pain out. NO MATTER if your belief or thoughts are rational or irrational, once strongholds are in place, they will do what they do. THEY GO TO WORK!
When teaching on spiritual warfare I often explain how strongholds surface swiftly in the mind, somewhat like a secret service agent, bodyguard or trained assassin. Once established strongholds surface instantaneously regardless to if you`re tripping or if the possibility of experiencing pain is legitimate. Don`t get it twisted, pulling and casting down strongholds, imaginations, sinful thoughts, etc... is a process, and to achieve victory as conveyed in the context, it is only accomplished because the weapons we employ are "...mighty THROUGH GOD..." We are to take this "through God" literally, meaning, if you want real results, you must have a real relationship with God. Real talk.
Here are some strongholds: stronghold of distrust, stronghold of suspicion, stronghold of fear of failure, stronghold of fear of abandonment. Know this too; they travel in packs just like wolves. And for example, here is how they work in the mind of someone who has been repeatedly hurt in an intimate relationship, or perhaps over the course of multiple relationships. Keep in mind how swiftly assassin-like they move as you consider the following results:
Please get this, strongholds like the ones above, convince the victim that it's easier to live disappointed, than to feel disappointed. The mindset of those having past pain-filled unresolved experiences can be so counterproductive because such victims think that if they feel too deeply again the bad stuff is going to happen again. This is why Romans 12:2 commands us to be transformed by the renewing of the mind. Doing so is priceless!
Let`s go deeper. The moment they start thinking about opening up, not only with people, but for many, even when it comes to trusting God, based on their level of pain, and how the mind works, all the ugly past unresolved mental images, and agonizing painful feelings often surface simultaneously with tremendous force in real time. This is when and why the stronghold kicks in. I can`t overemphasize the strongholds assignment is to keep the pain out! You feel me? The question, then, becomes, "What`s wrong with this mindset? Before answering these questions lets consider how strongholds develop. Amen
HOW STRONGHOLDS FORM
We humans learn and develop, thinking, behavioral, and emotional patterns within a fallen world.
Therefore, many things we nurture do not correspond with what God defines as good, then, the consequences are bad. Unfortunately, this truth includes the family developmental history, and the specific environment such families grew up in. Obviously social, economic, political and educational structures are included which represent, as just stated this "fallen world."
You see, "strongholds" in 2 Corinthians 10:4-5 is employed metaphorically to describe unhealthy thought patterns. In context, anything we trust in besides the Lord Jesus can become a stronghold. Subsequently, strongholds are often formed from traumatic events; not being loved properly, betrayal, personal sin, etc. Take a moment to think personally about past painful experiences. Times when you might have experienced rejection, felt ashamed, or possibly ridiculed. Many have been repeatedly embarrassed, humiliated, sexually abused, called stupid, or compelled to feel worthless.
For others, no words were spoken; instead, hateful glares punched holes in their self-esteem. Were you the recipient of detestable sneers every time you entered the room, or came home? Was it neglect, neglect so strong that you felt as if you didn`t exist when sitting close to someone who should have loved you deeply?
Perhaps, I pray, that by considering such truths, you can see why many conclude that it`s easier to live disappointed than to feel disappointed. Lord Jesus help us!
The question, then, becomes: How do people survive who have been subjected to such painful experiences? The answer leads us to the various coping techniques humans develop to deal with the pain. Coping skills and strongholds often cross and overlap and some define the same thing. However, unlike strongholds, some coping skills don`t always hinder spiritual growth. The key is learning how to watch and pray to identify your uniquely personal coping methods, so you can determine if the use is applicable. Just remembering a very painful experience can make us feel uncomfortable, awkward, fearful or unsafe. The force, intensity, and speed interacting with the merging thoughts and feelings, greatly determine how coping skills tend to kick in and how strongholds lock everything down. The strongly developed ones will kick in like trained assassins. If the truth be told, its normally our favorite coping skills or strongholds which pose the greatest threat to spiritual growth, and the renewal of our minds. The favorite ones stick closer than a brother.
Here, is a case scenario, of how coping skills and strongholds develop. Consider If when young, you would run and lock yourself in your bedroom every time you got into with a sibling, had a bad day at school, or when you were disciplined by a parent. This is how behavioral patterns develop. I only refer to the need to put emotional distance between oneself and someone during or shortly after a conflict. People who often turn to isolation when hurt, angry, or sense pain tend to find security in isolation.
Many have discovered that the pain subsides when they get by themselves. When security and relief from pain are consistently found when running toward or seeking isolation, the actual running and seeking also provides security and relief and reinforces the seemingly need for isolation. Therefore, the consistent arrival of relief during the most difficult times creates a proven track record. The track record of coping skills and defensive mechanisms(strongholds) develop an undeniable faith-filled dependency. The use of them is extremely difficult to break. (Keep in mind the fact that anything that we trust in more than God becomes defines a stronghold. Anything that exalts itself above the knowledge of God as recorded in 2 Corinthians 10:4-5 becomes a problem).
Subsequently, the boy, who runs to his bedroom and locks the door escaping the pain, grows into the man slamming the door of his home swiftly escaping an argument with his wife. It`s not always bad, but, at times this coping skill prevents an opportunity to develop listening skills and other ways to address confrontations and conflicts. Moving too quickly towards isolation to escape a brief frustration can also eliminate a chance to finally settle a conflict. God might place the answer you have been seeking within the heart of the person you`ve constantly struggled with. If you would hear that person out perhaps what`s been placed in their heart might just answer what you`ve been asking God for. Furthermore, it could be powerful enough to disinfect the wounded relationship so healing between the two of you can begin.
Moreover, the devil loves to speak to us when we are isolated, especially when we are angry, and even when we are right concerning the issue. The devil is a brutal opportunist and the battle against evil is initially waged in the mind. Everyone who truly pursues God enters a spiritual battle the moment they enter the light. I dare not take it lightly why many conclude that it's easier to live disappointed than to feel disappointed. And so, next, we will consider the adaptive purpose of feelings. Amen
