Danger in the Shadows
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I enjoy spending time in nature, hearing the birds sing and the bees buzz as they travel from flower to flower, and watching the gentle sway of the trees in the breeze. I love feeling the sun shining down on me. Nature is a testament to God’s creative power and is a soothing balm to my troubled soul. I live in a neighborhood with a lake surrounded by trees and shrubs. Walking trails curve behind a retirement village to a golf club and lead under an overpass bridge. The foundation of the bridge is formed with large rocks skillfully stacked on top of each other. One Sunday morning I decided to follow the footpath toward the golf course rather than circle the lake. As I walked by the foundation of the overpass, I heard a noise and, in my peripheral vision, saw something drop to the ground. I glanced down and was so startled that I jumped back and ran down the path as quickly as I could. A thin gray snake had fallen from the rocks onto the path in front of me and began to slither on the footpath near my feet.
Yikes! As I recovered from the unexpected incident, I began to think: How many times have I passed under that bridge and failed to see the snake hiding between the rocks? If I had not run away, would it have tried to attack me? In reflecting on my own life, how many times do I see something but not recognize the danger lurking behind the action, intent, or behavior? How many times does God try to catch my attention before I listen and obey? In 1 Peter 5:8, the Bible refers to Satan as a roaring lion who is actively trying to lead us away from God. But remember, there is Someone more powerful than Satan, and His name is Jesus. When we have Jesus, we have light and direction for our footsteps (Psalm 119:105), wisdom to discern right from wrong (Proverbs 2:6), and trust in God for all things (Proverbs 3:5).
We also have access to the armor of God, which is a hedge of protection against the deceptions of Satan (Ephesians 6:10–20). This includes the belt of truth; the breastplate of righteousness; the shield of faith; the helmet of salvation; and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God. My dear sisters, Jesus is our protection against the evil one who lurks in the shadows!
Jenny Rivera
