Episode 200. Swords Up with J. Harrington

When James Rosseau Sr. sat down with author, leader, and digital content manager J. Harrington, listeners didn’t just get an interview — they received a front-row seat into the making of a woman shaped by calling, hardship, obedience, and relentless spiritual resilience. From her earliest encounters with faith to the painful loss that anchors her book Swords Up, Harrington’s story is one of surrender and supernatural strength.

A Life Shaped by Early Responsibility and Faith

Harrington shared that most people don’t know she originally wanted to be an archaeologist. But long before that dream, her life had already been marked by responsibility. As a nine-year-old immigrant helping her mother navigate life in a new country, Harrington became the translator, bill-payer, and problem-solver — roles that demanded maturity far beyond her years. That competence and persistence later shaped her adult walk with Christ and her calling to write.

Though raised in the church, Harrington stepped away as a teen, only to be drawn back years later after a vivid spiritual encounter. That moment set her on a new path — but her most defining spiritual transformation came through what she calls the “feather moment,” when God showed her how close she was to falling without His intervention.

The Turning Point: Loss, Warfare, and Purpose

The most vulnerable part of the interview came as Harrington detailed the heartbreaking loss of her son during Hurricane Florence. With her husband away, the power out, and appointments canceled, she sensed something wasn’t right. When doctors confirmed there was no heartbeat, she had already been prepared by a warning she believes came from God: “Get used to the idea you don’t get to keep your baby.”

Yet even through grief, Harrington described a supernatural peace she felt in the hospital — a moment she identifies as encountering God’s presence in a tangible, overwhelming way. But she also sensed something else: evil. As she explains, that moment ignited her conviction that spiritual warfare is real, active, and deeply personal.

This experience became the root of Swords Up, her Bible study on the armor of God.

Why Swords Up Had to Be Written

Harrington didn’t initially want to write a book — but she asked God how she could serve Him while being a full-time mom of two young children. His response was clear: Write.

Doors began to open in unmistakable ways — including a scholarship for writing training — until it became undeniable that this was the assignment.

Her first draft of Swords Up was purely theological: Greek, Hebrew, and Scripture. Her publisher pushed her to add her personal stories, which she resisted. But as she prayed, the Holy Spirit led her to begin with the most painful point of her life: the death of her son. From there, memories resurfaced that reminded her of God’s faithfulness in every chapter of her life.

A Tactical Approach to Spiritual Warfare

What sets Swords Up apart is its bold, offensive strategy. Harrington explains that spiritual warfare is not passive — and neither is the armor of God. She emphasizes that our greatest enemy isn’t only Satan, but the power of our own choices (exousia). She walks readers through biblical language, practical action, and reflective challenges that start as early as Day Two.

Her goal isn’t to overwhelm but to awaken. And testimonies from readers confirm that people are experiencing breakthroughs quickly.

Why This Message Matters Today

When asked how Swords Up speaks to modern culture, Harrington pointed to the struggles affecting women today: anxiety, overwhelm, comparison, isolation, and a breakdown of spiritual identity. Women raise the next generation of believers, support their husbands, and disciple their communities — making them a prime target for spiritual attack.

Her mission? Equip believers—especially women—to recognize lies, disarm the enemy, and fight with the full arsenal God has given them.

What’s Next for J. Harrington

Whether through future conferences, workshops, speaking engagements, or expanded discipleship, Harrington is open to wherever God leads next. What she knows for sure is this: she is committed to equipping believers with truth, courage, and spiritual strategy.

And Swords Up is only the beginning.

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TIMESTAMPS

00:00 – Intro: “The juice is not worth the squeeze”

01:07 – Meet J. Harrington: Digital content manager, author & leader

01:37 – Behind the scenes at Holy Culture & the nickname “Jay”

02:37 – One thing people don’t know about J: Her archaeology dream

03:03 – Growing a passion for anthropology

03:45 – Why she walked away from archaeology

04:15 – Early life in church & drifting away

05:06 – Partying, drinking, and going to church hungover

05:31 – The vision of the feather and rededicating her life

06:27 – Learning to take her faith seriously

07:22 – Serving in church & the tech booth days

07:49 – How J stepped into leading women

08:40 – Leadership training & the first small group

09:17 – Taking on leadership after her co-leader moved

09:43 – The role of obedience in her life

10:59 – How J learned to discern God’s voice

12:30 – Writing as a calling: “Lord, open the doors”

13:07 – The breakthrough: Holy Culture becomes the open door

13:44 – On persistence and following God’s promptings

14:46 – Raising kids during deployments & postpartum anxiety

15:44 – Finding God’s help in unexpected ways

16:55 – Praying to discover her purpose

17:24 – The moment God said, “You are going to write”

17:41 – A lifetime of relocations and deployments

18:03 – Growing up responsible at nine years old

18:35 – The making of a Type A leader

19:35 – Why Swords Up uses the battle metaphor

20:06 – Taking an offensive approach to spiritual warfare

20:52 – How suffering sharpened her understanding of warfare

21:25 – The loss of her son & the supernatural encounter

23:10 – The joy of expecting a boy

24:15 – Hurricane Florence approaches & the warning from God

25:06 – Praying for help: “Help my baby survive me.”

25:57 – Hospital visits & complications

26:45 – When the heartbeat was gone

27:59 – The weight of confirmation & supernatural peace

29:25 – Delivering her son: A peaceful, holy moment

30:26 – Telling her husband to raise their daughter in church

31:32 – Blessing their son and saying goodbye

32:06 – What J hopes the book will accomplish

32:45 – The “lullaby effect” and missing the meaning of Scripture

33:44 – How the book reignited James’s own Bible study

34:22 – Dissecting Satan’s characteristics

35:07 – Why spiritual warfare feels personal

36:07 – Facing evil in the hospital room

38:03 – How this shaped her fight-forward approach

39:25 – How Swords Up equips women & discipleship philosophy

40:24 – Using the book in women’s groups

41:30 – How the original manuscript looked

42:40 – Publisher feedback: “You need stories”

43:04 – The Holy Spirit leads her to write the hardest chapter first

44:55 – Adding personal stories to deepen the impact

45:54 – The boldness of Day Two’s challenge

47:34 – Men reading the book too

49:04 – Why the book still resonates with both men and women

49:40 – The power of choice as spiritual warfare

50:39 – Her personal battle with choices

51:51 – Piloting the study & refining the lessons

53:00 – Designing the book for women who study alone

54:11 – Why you must read the introduction

55:19 – Taking your time with each day’s challenge

56:47 – Testimonies of breakthrough

58:29 – J’s “concentric circles” of community

59:40 – Obedience in public-facing ministry

1:00:33 – What’s next? Conferences, speaking, and more

1:02:11 – How Swords Up speaks to women today

1:04:46 – The biggest lie women believe: “You are not enough.”

1:06:20 – More weapons than you think: Beyond the sword

1:07:57 – Disarming Satan by walking with God

1:08:50 – Closing: Where to find Swords Up