Lesson 1 of the Living Free Journey
Have you ever felt like you were fighting a battle you couldn’t see? Like there was this constant tug-of-war inside you—between faith and fear, peace and chaos, truth and lies? If so, you’re not alone. The truth is, you and I are in the middle of an invisible war every single day.
And the crazy thing? Most of the time we don’t even realize it. We think it’s just stress, or circumstances, or “that’s just how life is.” But when we begin to recognize the real battle, everything changes. We start to see our struggles differently. We begin to fight smarter. And most importantly, we discover we’re not fighting alone.
In this blog, we’re going to peel back the layers and talk honestly about what this battle looks like, why it matters, and how both faith and science point us toward hope and victory.
What Do I Mean by “Invisible War”?
When I say invisible war, I’m not talking about some Hollywood-style battle with flashy effects and scary monsters. I’m talking about something much closer to home.
The Bible tells us in Ephesians 6:12 (NLT):
“For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.”
In other words, the real battle isn’t with your boss, your spouse, or your kids. It’s not with your anxiety, your shame, or your past. The real battle is spiritual. It’s about the unseen forces that whisper lies, fuel division, and try to keep you from living in the freedom God has already given you.
But here’s the thing: recognizing that you’re in a battle is the first step to winning it. If you don’t even realize you’re at war, you won’t fight back. You’ll just assume life is “always going to be this way.”
How the Battle Shows Up in Everyday Life
Maybe you’re thinking, “Okay, but what does this invisible war actually look like?”
It looks like…
- That anxious thought that keeps replaying in your head.
- The shame that sneaks in after you mess up—telling you you’re worthless.
- The conflict in your marriage that feels way bigger than it should.
- The heaviness that hits you out of nowhere when you’re scrolling on social media.
See, the battle is sneaky. It’s not usually some huge dramatic thing. More often, it shows up in subtle lies, distorted thinking, and emotional patterns that leave us feeling defeated.
And the enemy’s favorite strategy? To convince you that the fight is against people—so you’ll waste your energy blaming others instead of recognizing the real source.
But once you see it for what it is, you can start to shift how you respond. Instead of lashing out or shutting down, you can pause and remember: This isn’t about them. This is about something deeper. And I don’t have to fight this alone.
Why Recognizing the Battle Matters
So why does this even matter? Because awareness is everything.
Think about it: if you’ve ever played a game, you know you can’t win if you don’t know the rules. Imagine showing up to a soccer field, not realizing the other team was even out there, and just standing around wondering why the ball kept disappearing. That’s what it’s like when we live our lives unaware of the invisible war.
When we recognize the battle:
- We stop wasting energy fighting the wrong things.
- We learn to respond with faith instead of fear.
- We see how desperately we need God’s strength (not just our own).
- We begin to build resilience and clarity in our everyday choices.
Awareness doesn’t solve everything—but it does change everything. Because once you know what’s really going on, you can invite God into the fight and start to take back ground the enemy has stolen.
What Science Says About the Battle in Our Minds
Now let’s bring in some science. Even though the Bible talks about this invisible war in spiritual terms, neuroscience actually backs it up in fascinating ways.
Research shows that our brains are constantly processing thoughts, emotions, and beliefs—many of which happen below the surface of our awareness. Scientists call these “automatic thoughts” or “cognitive patterns.” And just like the Bible describes the enemy as planting lies, science shows how these negative thought loops can literally rewire our brains over time if we let them run unchecked.
Here’s what science says happens when we don’t recognize the battle:
- Negativity bias: Our brains are wired to focus on negative experiences more strongly than positive ones, making fear and worry feel more “true.”
- Rumination: Replaying stressful or fearful thoughts actually strengthens the neural pathways that keep us stuck in anxiety.
- Emotional hijacking: When the amygdala (the fear center in the brain) takes over, our rational thinking shuts down, leaving us reactive and overwhelmed.
But here’s the hopeful part: neuroscience also proves that we can renew our minds (Romans 12:2). Through practices like gratitude, mindfulness, journaling, and prayer, we can literally rewire our brains toward peace, resilience, and faith.
Science is basically confirming what Scripture has said all along: the battle is real, but victory is possible.
Tools to Help You Fight Back
So if we’re in this invisible war, how do we actually fight back? Here are a few simple but powerful tools:
- Prayer: Not as a last resort, but as your first line of defense. Prayer invites God’s power into places you can’t fix on your own.
- Scripture: God’s Word is called the “sword of the Spirit” (Ephesians 6:17) for a reason. Speaking truth out loud can cut through lies and fear.
- Community: Isolation is one of the enemy’s favorite weapons. Surround yourself with people who will remind you of truth when you forget it.
- Awareness: Start noticing your thought patterns. Ask, “Is this thought leading me closer to God’s truth or pulling me away?”
- Journaling: Writing down your thoughts and prayers helps you recognize patterns and see how God is working in your life.
You don’t have to do all of these perfectly. Just start with one. Even one small step can shift the way you face the battle.
You’re Not Alone in This
If there’s one thing I hope you take away, it’s this: you’re not fighting alone.
The enemy loves to make you feel like you’re isolated, powerless, and stuck. But the truth is, you have God’s Spirit living in you, reminding you of who you are. And you have a community of people—people just like you—who are also learning to recognize and fight this invisible war.
This journey isn’t about pretending the battle doesn’t exist. It’s about naming it, facing it, and learning to lean on God’s strength instead of your own.
Final Thoughts
The invisible war is real. But so is God’s victory.
Every time you choose faith over fear, truth over lies, love over bitterness—you’re winning battles that no one else can see. And those victories matter. They shape the kind of person you’re becoming, the kind of peace you carry, and the kind of light you bring into the world.
So today, take a moment to pause. Recognize the battle. And then remember: the war has already been won through Christ. You just get to walk in that victory, one step at a time.
Your Next Step
If you’re ready to go deeper, I want to invite you into one of two spaces:
💜 Join The Purple Room—a safe, anonymous space where you’ll feel seen, heard, and valued while connecting with others walking this same journey.
✨ Or, sign up for the Living Free Journey—a step-by-step experience that helps you break free from the battles that keep holding you back and stay free with practical tools rooted in both science and faith.
You don’t have to fight this battle alone. Let’s walk it out—together.
