Arrow By Day

 "I sought Elohim, and He answered me and delivered me from all my fears." 

Psalm 34:4

As part of gym class when I was a kid, we learned archery.

The gymnasium was set up with bullseye targets and “shooting stations.”

It was not that spectacular. The point was to get us youngsters exposed to the different types of sports and physical activity.

I was not good at gym class. Some of my best traumas have resulted from this era of my childhood.

I was so anxious about anything. Not being well-coordinated, and being overweight, not surprisingly, I was, therefore, not good at “sports.”

I tried to just get through the exercises of humiliation, get it over with, await the “S” for “satisfactory,” or the “C” on my report card.

I was anxious during each class session.

Again, I just wanted “to get it over with.”

So much so, that, during one of the class rounds of shooting arrows, I, solely fixated on getting everything done and over with ASAP, after shooting my arrows. I went towards the target, to pull them out.

Big mistake.

Other kids’ arrows were still in motion. I could have gotten struck, probably in the back.

It would have probably been more than a flesh wound, let’s put it that way.

I soon heard the whistle blow, and my gym teacher sprinted, yanking me out of the area.

Yes, we students were informed not to retrieve out arrows until everyone had finished shooting.

It was dangerous not to wait. We could be literally shot with some stray arrow.

Dangerous.

I paid attention, at the time of that warning, to the caution, as we embarked on this sport.

But, again, on this particular morning, I was anxious.

I was consumed with getting everything over with as soon as possible.

It was a coping strategy, learned from my childhood abuse experiences.

So, any safety instructions fell out of my head in that space.

The event was traumatizing and humiliating, but I was introduced to the concept of arrows, anxiety, and how they would show up in my later life as “issues.”

“Arrows.”

 "There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love." 

1 John 4:18

 Anxiety. Fear. Nervousness.

Scripture has a lot to say about fear. And how He helps concerning it.

 "Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your YAH; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."

Isaiah 41:10

 

"For The Most High gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control." 

2 Timothy 1:7

 

 "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for Elohim your YAH is with you wherever you go." 

 

Joshua 1:9

 

 "Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to The Most High. And the peace of YAH, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Yahshua Ha-Mashiach Christ.

Philippians 4:6-7

As a child, I did not know about these scriptures.

As a child, fear just got embedded into my central nervous system.

Hence, the archery incident in gym class.

Anxiety. Fear. Nervousness.

Yep, they have been a part of my life.

Abuse, trauma, and the scary world we inhabit have made sure that I would wrestle with these things in my life.

Within the past few years, I have really grabbed ahold of Psalm 91, for protection.

Comprehensive protection.

And there is QUITE a need for comprehensive protection.

This part of the scriptural passage has been especially resonant for me.

 "You will not fear the terror of night, nor the arrow that flies by day." 

Psalm 91:5

The arrow that flies by day.

That can apply to any number of precarious, uncertain, dangerous, and threatening circumstances.

We live in a scary world.

Arrows are aiming and shooting at us all day long.

Psalm 91:5 also intersects with Isaiah 54:17…

“No weapon formed against you shall prosper…”

Just visualize an arrow being formed and aimed at you and me.

It looks ominous and deadly. It looks like it’s going to take you and I out.

And then, The Most High steps in.

Like the gym teacher who intervened when I was walking towards my target to remove my shot arrows, amidst other kids’ flying weapons.

Nothing hit me.

Nothing will hit you, either.

The weapon may be formed.

But, with The Sovereignty of The Most High, we are protected.

And we are also equipped and directed to put on The Armor of The Most High (Ephesians 6:10-18).

And there is particular attention paid to Ephesians 6:16…

"In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one." 

Arrows flying at us?

We are called to EXTINGUISH them.

All “by faith.”

I suppose we could go to Amazon and order a full-on knight’s armor.

(But really, where would we store it when not in use?)

The armor, although invisible to the human eye, is still real, strong, active, and protective.

It would have been great for me to understand this when I was a kid in gym class.

Alas, I was nine. What do you want from me?

But, here and now, we can address the arrows of fear, anxiety, threat, and danger, applying power from The Most High to our circumstances.

It’s not done perfectly, easily. Feelings usually don’t get all warm and fuzzy.

We may, indeed, still “feel fear.”

But it does not have the final say.

The Most High does.

He is greater than any arrow.

Let’s pray.

ABBA-

I come to You, in The Name of Yahshua, Your Son, my Savior.

You know my fears.

You know what terrifies me.

You know and see every weapon.

Forgive me for focusing so much on them.

You are more powerful than any threat that rises against me.

Help me to internalize that, activate my faith for that to be reality in my life.

Thank You for protecting and helping me in innumerable ways that I cannot see and am not aware of.

Thank You for keeping me safe.

Help me to feel Your safety, intercepting every arrow, from here on out.

Thank You for helping me.

I receive it, by faith, in Yahshua’s Name.

Amen.

Copyright © 2026 by Sheryle Cruse