When I was growing up, I loved watching Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom. Marlin Perkins would take us all over the world to observe and learn all about the amazing animals God had created. For the ocean I looked to The Undersea World of Jacques Cousteau. For land, it was Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom. Nature shows have always been popular. Today, we have David Attenborough’s documentaries about life on our planet.
Have you ever seen an episode about life on the African plains? Every year there is a migration of wildebeest in vast numbers. More than 1.5 million wildebeest cross the Serengeti plains at the end of the rainy season (usually in May or June). It is recognized as one of the “Seven Wonders of the Natural World.” It is extraordinary. Do you know who else knows when the wildebeest begin to cross? Lions. It’s the circle of life. Lions need to feed their young too. But take note of who lions target. A wildebeest can grow to 8 feet in length and weigh up to 600 pounds. Even the king of the jungle isn’t going to mess with that. No, they wait. Watch as the enormous crowd passes by. Why? They’re looking for the stragglers. The old, the sick, the weak, the young. They are the easy targets. Why take on a full grown 600 p0und bull when you can pick off his grandfather much easier? So, that’s what they do. Prey on those who are struggling.
Satan is a similar predator. The apostle Peter writes in his first letter, “Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour” (1 Peter 5:8). The evil one’s primary objective is to destroy that which God loves and he goes about it the exact same way. He doesn’t launch a frontal attack on anyone who is walking strong in the LORD. Why bother, when you can seek out someone who is struggling – weak, sick, tired. Yes, we will find that when we hit a rough patch in life. Perhaps a loved one is sick or you yourself receive a discouraging diagnosis. Maybe you lost a job or a friend, a brother or sister-in-Christ (maybe even a pastor) has let you down. You’re hurt. Trying to decide what to do next. That’s when the devil pounces! When we’re weak, questioning, doubting. That’s when he throws everything including the kitchen sink at us. And it can be effective.
It’s hard. When we are hurting. It’s hard to stay faithful. To trust God without reservation. “I prayed and He didn’t answer me!” “Where is He now when I need Him?” It’s hard to acknowledge that in an imperfect world, imperfect things happen. Our instinct is to run. Flee. Like Jonah. And that’s what Satan wants. For us to run from God not to Him.
I don’t know what you may be going through right now. I do know that God loves you. He has a purpose and a plan for you and will walk beside you through the darkest of moments. Is there a reason for our struggle? Are we really open to that possibility? The Bible does say, “And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them” (Romans 8:28).
I know sometimes it can be hard. It’s hard for me too on occasion. But I just want to remind you (and myself) that running isn’t a solution. How’d that work out for Jonah? I don’t want to spend three days in the belly of a big fish or whatever the equivalent would be in 2024. No, it’s easy to trust God when things are going well. The test of one’s faith is whether or not we have faith in Him when everything seems to be crashing down around us.
Hang on my friends. Whatever it is. It will pass. “Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take” (Proverbs 3:5-6).
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