Reed’s Reads of Wisdom Wednesdays™: Scarred but Still Standing: The Power of Persistence in the Midst of Battle

Tyrone Tony Reed Jr.
Jan 14
4 min read

💥 When Life Won’t Let Up

There are some fights that don’t end when you win. There are some wounds that don’t stop bleeding even when the enemy is gone. And there are some moments when standing up again doesn’t feel brave—it just feels necessary.

In Book I of S.O.L.A.D.™: Soldiers of Light Against Darkness™, Angelo faces this kind of moment. After a brutal confrontation with the demon No Mercy, aided by Melanie, Angelo is already broken—bloodied, breathless, and running on fumes.

But the enemy doesn’t care that you’re tired. Darkness doesn’t wait until you’re ready. And sometimes, your healing hasn’t even started before the next fight comes.

Just as Angelo begins to recover, a new, more terrifying adversary appears—one that laughs in the face of Angelo's exhaustion, pain, and purpose.

And yet—Angelo persists.

He doesn’t feel heroic. He doesn’t look powerful. But persistence is never about how you feel. It’s about what you do anyway.

⚔️ “On me, O Lord… have mercy.”

One of the most unforgettable moments in this chapter is when Angelo recalls the backwards-spoken Bible verse of an old missionary:

“On me, oh Lord… have mercy.”

That simple, haunting phrase becomes his battle cry. And it mirrors our own walk of faith, doesn’t it?

Sometimes, it feels like we’re facing life backwards. Sometimes, mercy comes after the hit. Sometimes, all we can do is swing.

But here’s the truth: God hears even the backwards prayers. The prayers groaned through pain. The ones whispered through tears. The ones gasped through gritted teeth.

Biblical Wisdom for Persevering Saints

Psalm 34:19 (NKJV) says:

"Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all."

Galatians 6:9 reminds us:

"Let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart."

And Isaiah 40:29 declares:

“He gives power to the weak, and to those who have no might He increases strength.”

Angelo didn’t get stronger before the battle. He was made stronger through the battle.

The same is true for us.

🔥 Persistence in the Face of Powerless Moments

Let’s be honest—sometimes persistence isn’t pretty.

Sometimes it’s blood in your mouth and tears on your face.

Sometimes it’s dragging yourself out of the crater—again. Sometimes it's standing between someone you love and a force of darkness that laughs in your face.

But as the S.O.L.A.D.™ series reminds us—every stand has value. Every battle scars the enemy, even if it scars you too.

And every time you get back up—you’re telling Hell, "You should have finished me when you had the chance."

🌪️ When the Enemy Keeps Coming

In Chapters 9 and 10, we see this layered attack. Victory is met not with rest, but with more warfare. Recovery is interrupted by the enemy’s return.

Even when Melanie and Angelo are both wounded, even when they can barely move, they still choose to protect. To stand. To resist.

Sometimes your strength isn’t seen in your muscles—it’s seen in your mission.

Sometimes your power isn’t in your sword—it’s in your refusal to run.

Even when faced with a new enemy…

Even when it seems impossible…

Even when victory feels like a memory instead of a promise…

You. Keep. Going.

💡 Life Application: How to Walk Through Shadowed Valleys

The moment you decide to rise again, everything in hell takes notice. So how do you persist when:

The wounds haven’t healed yet?
The enemy has leveled up?
You’re fighting battles no one sees?

You ground yourself in what’s eternal, not what’s visible.

Here’s what you do:

✅ Remember what God promised—even if your body is screaming in pain.

✅ Declare what’s true—even when you’re surrounded by destruction.

✅ Protect others—even when you don’t feel strong enough to protect yourself.

The S.O.L.A.D.™ way is the warrior’s way.

And warriors aren’t made in moments of peace.They’re forged in fire.

🕊 Declaration for the Persistent

Say this out loud today:

I will not break. I may bleed, I may stagger, I may fall, but I will get back up. My calling is greater than my pain. My purpose is greater than my fear. And my God is greater than any darkness.

🧠 Symbolism in the Scene

Let’s reflect for a moment:

Angelo’s body is broken, but his spirit is defiant. He is the embodiment of how faith doesn’t always look strong—but still is.
Melanie’s arrows strike true—even when her hands shake. Persistence doesn’t require perfection. Just obedience.
The demon keeps rising—but so do they. Because evil doesn’t get the last word. God does.
Even as Angelo collapses, his sword returns to him. He doesn’t chase the weapon—his identity as a Soldier of Light Against Darkness™ summons it.

Sometimes, it’s not about finding your strength. It’s about remembering who you already are.

📚 Prepared for Battle

Soldiers of Light Against Darkness™ doesn’t sugarcoat warfare.

It prepares its characters—and its readers—for the battles that matter:

The battle for hope.
The battle for purpose.
The battle for persistence.

This isn’t fantasy. It’s a faith-filled fight dressed in supernatural armor.

And every volume you read arms you with more wisdom, more courage, and more resolve to win your own war.

✨ Your Next Step

Are you in a fight today?

Are you tired of getting up again?

Are you wondering if it’s even worth it?

Hear this loud and clear:

The fact that the enemy keeps hitting you means you’re a threat. The fact that you’re still here means you’re winning.

So wipe the blood from your mouth.

Pull yourself out of the crater.

And keep going.

Because God’s not done with you yet.

And neither is your story.

🛒 Ready for More?

📚 Dive deeper into the S.O.L.A.D.™ universe. Books I & II are available now—and Books III and IV are coming very soon.If today’s post lit something inside you, wait until you see what’s next.