“For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.” — Ephesians 6:12 (ESV)

Paul is clear: our real fight isn’t against people. It’s against spiritual powers. This is a wrestling match, and the Greek word here paints the picture of hand-to-hand combat. It’s not a long-distance battle. It’s close. It’s intense. It’s exhausting. But it’s not hopeless.

The battle is real, but so is the victory.

In Word Pictures in the New Testament, A.T. Robertson describes this word “wrestle” as a physical contest—like trying to pin someone to the ground. That’s what the Christian life feels like sometimes. Not a boxing match where you can dodge and dance, but a ground game where you have to hold your ground and refuse to let go.

And the enemy is not disorganized. Paul lists different categories of evil forces here—rulers, authorities, powers, forces. It’s like organized spiritual crime. These are real forces actively working against God’s people.

But Colossians 2 gives us confidence. It says Jesus disarmed the rulers and authorities and “put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him.” Yes, there’s a battle, but it’s a battle with a foregone conclusion. We’re not fighting for Christ’s victory. We’re fighting from it. The outcome has already been sealed by Jesus.

So no, Christians aren’t meant to live in some sort of spiritual bubble, unaware of the conflict around them. We’re called to engage. But we’re not alone. We’ve been equipped. We’ve been armed. And we’ve been placed into the body of Christ for a reason.

And that’s another key point: we’re not meant to fight alone.

When Paul describes the armor of God, people in his time would have immediately thought of Roman soldiers. These men were known for their discipline, their equipment, and—most importantly—their unity. Roman soldiers didn’t fight alone. They fought side by side, their shields locked together, their armor covering each other. One soldier alone was vulnerable. But together, they were unstoppable.

That’s how the church is supposed to function. When believers stand side by side, equipped with God’s armor, supporting each other, praying for each other, and living in unity—that’s when we are at our strongest.

So yes, put on the whole armor of God. But don’t do it alone. This is a community fight. And the best way to thrive in it is to stay connected—to God and to His people.