“I Get To!”® – Trust God to Disarm Life’s Landmines

By Joan Endicott

In a small war-torn village nestled in the heart of a rugged landscape lived a young woman named Emlyn (which means “brave” or “courageous”). The village had been ravaged by conflict, leaving behind a treacherous minefield that threatened the safety of all its inhabitants. But Emlyn, known for her courage and determination, decided it was time to take action and make her home safe once more.

Emlyn had grown up hearing stories of the brave souls who had ventured into the minefield, never to return. Though these stories haunted her, she knew that living in fear was not really living. With a heart full of resolve, she sought the guidance of an old, wise combat engineer named Thane, who had once served in the military and had experience in disarming landmines. Though he was now physically unable to do this work himself, Thane taught Emlyn the skills she needed to navigate the minefield safely. He showed her how to use a metal detector, identify different types of mines, and most importantly, stay calm under pressure. Armed with this knowledge and a deep sense of purpose, Emlyn set out on what she knew was her God-given mission.

As she stepped into the minefield, the weight of the task ahead was overwhelming. Each step was deliberate, each movement calculated. The metal detector beeped softly, guiding her to the first hidden danger. Carefully, she knelt down and began the painstaking process of uncovering the mine. Her hands trembled, but her conviction remained steadfast. She remembered the words of Thane, who had told her, “Courage is not the absence of fear but the triumph over it.”

With Thane’s instructions echoing in her mind, Emlyn successfully disarmed the first mine. She was finally able to take in a full breath and exhale enormous relief as a sense of triumph washed over her –  while being painfully aware her work had just begun. Looking out across the vast field, one can only imagine how daunting and insurmountable this task must have felt. At times, the waves of doubt and fear brought such darkness and a sense of overwhelm that all Emlyn could do was go away by herself and cry – curl up and cry, crying out to God.

Then, as she drew strength from her faith, a new wave of certainty would wash over her, knowing God had called her to this and He would give her the strength to accomplish it. In her prayer, she quoted with conviction a favorite verse that reminded her: “The Lord is my light and my salvation –  whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life – of whom shall I be afraid?” (Psalm 27:1). Concluding her prayer, she said, “Thank you, Lord, that just like David ran to his battlefield to slay the giants he faced, you are doing the same for me!”

She was committed to finding and disarming each landmine she encountered. Though the process was slow and arduous, with each device disarmed, Emlyn paused to pray and thank the Lord for His guidance and help. Word of Emlyn’s bravery spread throughout the village, and soon, others began to join her. Grateful for her courage, which was making their children and families safer, they loved and trusted her. Many started calling her Emlyn the Brave. Together, they formed a team, working side by side to clear the minefield. The once desolate and dangerous land began to transform as the villagers reclaimed their home, quite literally one step at a time.

As the last mine was disarmed, cheers of celebration and gratitude erupted from the villagers. Together, they had done it! The minefield was no more. As Emlyn’s eyes filled with tears, her heart overflowed with gratitude to God. She had faced her fears and, in doing so, had brought hope and safety to her village. The minefield no longer had any power to hurt anyone else – ever again.

“When a brave man takes a stand, the spines of others are often stiffened.” – Reverend Billy Graham

In life, we all carry invisible landmines – deep wounds, painful triggers, and memories of brokenness that can feel just as dangerous and debilitating as the literal ones Emlyn faced. These emotional landmines might be buried beneath layers of time, but they still have the power to harm us and those we love if left unchecked. Just as Emlyn bravely stepped into the minefield to make her village safe, we too must confront the landmines in our hearts with courage and determination. Through faith, guidance, and support, we can begin the delicate process of disarming them – so that they no longer explode unexpectedly, injuring ourselves or those around us. Like Emlyn, this journey is not easy, but with each step forward, healing and transformation are possible. It’s time to reclaim the territory of our lives, one careful step at a time.

Restoration: is the act of returning something to its original state, making it whole or complete again. In a broader sense, restoration involves healing, renewal, and revival. It can apply to physical objects, natural environments, relationships, and even individuals.

Oh friend, aren’t we eternally grateful that God is the God of restoration? I love this beautiful verse that emphasizes His restorative nature. Joel 2:25 declares, “I will restore to you the years that the locust has eaten.” What a promise! This verse reflects God’s ability to bring renewal and healing, even after seasons of loss and hardship. It’s a powerful reminder of hope and redemption.

Before I understood how restoration works, I spent a great deal of time trying to avoid the possible landmines in my life. You know those moments – when you’re minding your own business, and suddenly, out of nowhere, you’re hit with a trauma trigger or something that suddenly transports you back to a painful place in your past? Since stepping on a landmine can be catastrophic, most of us will do anything to avoid that possibility. We cling to the illusion of “out of sight, out of mind.” If I don’t think about it, talk about it, or acknowledge it, it can’t hurt me, right?

But here’s the truth: avoidance is not the answer. It never has been. But why would someone willingly walk into such a dangerous place? That was my exact question… until I realized that avoiding the landmines wasn’t the solution – finding them and disarming them was.

Yes, that sounds great, doesn’t it? I want my landmines to be forever disarmed so they can’t hurt me – or anyone else indirectly – ever again. But here’s the sobering reality: who can do that for me? Any volunteers? Experts? Coaches? Counselors? Clergy? Friends? Family? The answer is no one. I can get guidance and tools from others, just as I offer my clients, but the rolling up of the emotional sleeves and doing the work is something each person can only do for themselves. Just like me, in your case, onlyxyou know what happened, who did what, how you felt at the time, and how you still feel about it. Nobody else has a clue. This is deeply personal work to individually undertake. The one(s) who hurt you cannot heal you – only God can!

Though it’s not the answer any of us want, the reality is this: You and I are the only ones who can do the work. But here’s the good news – God puts His super on our natural, giving us supernatural help to find and disarm those explosive devices so they become powerless in our lives. Many years…so many years…of working so hard to avoid the landmines proved to me that it didn’t help resolve or restore anything. No matter how much time had passed since those landmines were buried, they were still there, waiting to be triggered. Avoiding them was clearly not the answer. Finding and disarming them was the only way forward.

So began my journey into the minefield. Minefields are all different. My minefield was a dark and desolate place I had no desire to return to, yet I understood that there would be no ultimate victory without deliberately walking back through the battlefield that had left me a wounded warrior. Battered, bruised, and bleeding – not where anyone could see, but deep inside. This is real life… It’s hard. It’s scary. It’s painful. AND – it’s worth it!

And here’s the thing about restoration: It’s not just about merely surviving. It’s about thriving. It’s about reclaiming the territory of your life that fear and pain have stolen. It’s about standing in the middle of that battlefield, scars and all, and declaring, “This no longer has power over me.” Restoration is God’s specialty. He doesn’t just patch us up and send us on our way. No, He makes us whole. He takes the broken pieces and creates something even more beautiful than before.

So, my fellow sojourner, if you find yourself standing at the edge of your own minefield, take heart. You are not alone! Like Emlyn, you and I get to push through our fears and step out in faith. The God of restoration walks with you, guiding your steps, giving you strength, and reminding you that the battle is already won. One step at a time, with His help, you can disarm the landmines of your past and step into the fullness of the life He has for you. How blessed are we to have such hope in Him?

Grab your FREE copy of Joan Endicott’s “I Get To!”® book at www.JoanEndicott.com. Also, be one of the first to get her 2nd book,“I Get To!”® Own My Worth! Joan is an Award-Winning Keynote Speaker, Author and Coach whose coaching has reached over 30 countries. Find out more about her speaking and coaching here: www.JoanEndicott.com.