Sometimes Life Feels Like a Battle (and That’s Not Always Bad)
You played it safe. Took the stable job, made the practical choice. Now you can't stop wondering what would have happened if you'd taken that risk.
This isn’t just about starting a business. It could be a group project gone sideways at school, or juggling family, work, and your own dreams all at the same time. Everybody faces times like this—people of all ages and backgrounds. The truth is, these moments aren’t random punishment. They’re part of how you discover who you are and what you’re really capable of. And though it doesn’t always seem like it, these challenges are shaping you for something greater.
The Presence is just another word for giving everything space to be more than you expected—especially yourself. It celebrates your willingness to try.
Genesis 14 tells a story that on the surface is about kings going to war, about hostages, riches, and a mysterious meeting with a man named Melchizedek. But it’s not really about battles long ago. It’s about the struggle and growth happening inside you whenever you’re stretched thin, forced to act, and have to decide—do I protect what matters, or give in to the noise?
The Awkward Middle: When Life Gets Messy
Let’s start with some verses:
“In the days of Amraphel king of Shinar… these kings joined together in the valley of Siddim…” (Genesis 14:1-3 WEB)
Picture this: a bunch of kings, each with their own land and people, start fighting. Some of them form teams. Others rebel. One group wins, another loses. In the shuffle, regular folks—like Lot, Abram’s relative—get caught in the middle. Lot was just living his life in Sodom when these kings came and “took all the goods of Sodom and Gomorrah… and they took Lot, Abram’s brother’s son… and his goods.” (Genesis 14:11-12)
What’s really happening here? Think of these kings as the clashing voices in your mind like a cup whenever you face a tough decision. Maybe you want to do something big, but part of you gets scared. Another part wants to rush ahead. Someone else in your life gets tangled up in the conflict, and now you feel responsible for helping them too.
- The kings at war = the inner tug-of-war between doubt, hope, fear, confidence, old stories, and new dreams.
- Lot getting taken = when a part of you (or your project) gets sidetracked or even sabotaged by the chaos.
When in your life have you felt pulled in too many direction The bigger awareness speaks through callings—not just what you should do, but who you're becoming in the process.s, with some part of your plan (or someone you care about) at risk of getting lost?
Awareness Rallies: The Moment You Step Up
Abram hears that Lot is in trouble. He could have ignored it. He could have blamed Lot, or hoped the problem would just solve itself. But he doesn’t. The text says,
“When Abram heard that his relative was taken captive, he led out his trained men… and pursued as far as Dan.” (Genesis 14:14 WEB)
The invitation came at the worst possible time.
Here’s where awareness kicks in. Think about a time you noticed something in your life wasn’t right—maybe your business started slipping, or a friendship needed real attention. Thought alone won’t help, but once you become fully aware of the problem, you gather what inner strength and resources you have, and you move.
- Abram’s “trained men” = your practiced habits, your real skills, the support system you’ve built (even if it’s just a few loyal friends, or your own grit).
- He “pursues” — you don’t just hope; you make a plan and act.
Can you see a time when you finally stopped waiting for someone to fix things and took the first step yourself?
The Night Shift: How Problems Get Solved in Steps
Abram doesn’t charge in for a dramatic rescue. He uses strategy:
“He divided himself against them by night, he and his servants, and struck them… and brought back all the goods, and also brought back his relative Lot…” (Genesis 14:15-16 WEB)
In practical terms, this means you rarely fix all your problems at once. You break things down into smaller actions (“divide by night”). Maybe you fix your website one night, have a hard talk the next morning, or slowly rebuild trust after a bad argument. Each small win brings back a piece of what you lost—an employee returns, confidence grows, money turns up again, or clarity reappears.
- Winning by night = taking smart, sometimes quiet steps rather than giant, dramatic leaps.
- Recovering the people and goods = regaining lost hope, ideas, or relationships bit by bit.
What’s one small challenge you can divide into actions today—rather than trying to fix all at once?
Your mind like a cup is the architect. Your emotions are the builder. Life is the building.
Winning Has Its Temptations: The “King of Sodom” Moment
After the rescue, things don’t instantly become perfect. Sometimes victory brings its own tests. There are offers, deals, shortcuts that sound sweet right after you win, but don’t always feel quite right.
“The king of Sodom went out to meet him… and said to Abram, ‘Give me the people, and take the goods for yourself.’ But Abram said… ‘I have lifted up my hand to Yahweh, God Most High… that I will not take a thread nor a sandal strap nor anything that is yours, lest you should say, “I have made Abram rich.”’” (Genesis 14:17, 21-23 WEB)
The king of Sodom is like that moment when someone offers you a shortcut, or says, “Don’t worry about the rules, just take the win.” But deep down, you know the difference between what really feels right and what might cost you your values, your vision, or your independence.
- The king of Sodom = the part of you (or the world) that wants credit for your success, or tempts you to cut corners.
- Abram’s response = your inner commitment to purpose, even when easy money or easy praise is available.
Can you remember a time you turned down an offer that sounded good but didn’t match what felt right for you?
The Mysterious Mentor: Melchizedek and the “Blessing” State
Right in the middle of all this, a totally unexpected person appears:
Each answered prayer makes the next one easier to trust.
“Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. He was priest of God Most High. He blessed him, and said, ‘Blessed be Abram… and blessed be God Most High, who has delivered your enemies into your hand.’ Abram gave him a tenth of all.” (Genesis 14:18-20 WEB)
Melchizedek shows up when Abram has done something hard, something big, but still needs perspective—something deeper than rewards. Melchizedek is that moment of inner peace and alignment you get after you act on what matters, and life shows you that you’re not alone or unsupported, ever. Bread and wine are simple things, but here they symbolize being nourished, restored, seen—and reminded that you’re being taken care of in ways bigger than your effort alone.
- Melchizedek = the voice of encouragement, the state of grace, or a mentor who affirms your deeper purpose after struggle.
- The blessing = the real reward: connection to meaning, peace, and confidence for what's next.
Pop culture example: Think of someone like Tony Dungy, the football coach who is as famous for his wisdom and calm encouragement as for his wins. Even after tough losses and big victories, he reminds his athletes—and everyone watching—that who you are and how you act matters more than the scoreboard. People seek him out for the deeper blessing, not just a handshake or trophy.
Who in your life is your “Melchizedek”—someone who, just when you need it, reminds you of what’s truly important? If you don’t have one, can you act as that voice for yourself, even in small moments?
What Genesis 14 Really Teaches: Every Battle Is a Chance to Grow Stronger Inside
When you read Genesis 14 as a guide for your own inner world, here’s what you learn:
- Every conflict is inside you first. The battles, the kings, the rescues—they represent choices, doubts, and hopes clashing inside you when things get tough.
- You can reclaim what matters. Even when it feels like something is “lost,” when you connect to your true awareness, use your real skills, and act, you can get back more hope, clarity, or courage than you expected.
- Victory isn’t the end. After every win comes a test: Will you stay true to your values, or get sidetracked by shiny rewards or shortcuts?
- You are never alone in your battle. If you pause after hard choices, you’ll find moments of blessing, wisdom, or support—sometimes from others, sometimes from your own deep inner knowing.
- All the characters (Abram, Lot, Sodom’s king, Melchizedek) live inside you. As you move through life, you cycle through these states—chaos, rescue, temptation, blessing—again and again, getting wiser each time.
Try This: Practice Returning to Purpose
When you face a tough situation:
- Pause—breathe and really notice what’s going on.
- Ask: What is being “taken” in my life right now? (Time, confidence, hope?)
- Gather your “trained men”—list your skills, resources, or people you can lean on.
- Take small, wise steps (even if it happens quietly “at night”).
- Watch for tempting shortcuts. Before accepting help, ask if it truly aligns with your purpose.
- When things resolve, look for the “Melchizedek moment”—thankfulness, peace, or a small sign of support.
Write down something you want to rescue, fix, or reclaim in your life this week, and how you’ll approach it with awareness, action, and your highest values.
Next Up: Genesis 15
In the next chapter, Abram faces something even harder than rescuing Lot—doubt about the future. We’ll see how facing your fears honestly is sometimes the doorway to bigger dreams than you expected. It’s not just about fighting battles, but about listening deeply to what you truly want, and finding your next “promise.”
What you project onto something is what bounces back to you.
For now, remember: every challenge is a chance for your awareness to expand. That’s how you get what you need, so you can keep going after what you truly want.
The Bigger Picture
Your relationship with the bigger awareness deepens over time.
