By Sandra L. Davis 1 Peter 5:8 NIV
Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Keep your eyes on the Lord. Listen for his whisper among the roar of the lion that wants to keep your focus on the things of this world and not of Christ.
When the trials of this world, like a roaring lion, are screaming “You can’t”, this means God has an “I can” He is leading you towards. The closer you get to the purpose or will God has for you, the LOUDER the lion roars. Roars come in the form of lost job, layoff, illness, bankruptcy, vehicle break-down, school grades down, lost wallet, identity theft, loss of a loved one; whatever the Lion is roaring at you steals your peace of mind, causing you to doubt your self-worth or your faith in the all Mighty God that created you. Whatever it is that is screaming you can’t do it, know that it is not from the Lord. God whispers He loves you while the “I can’t” screams you are not capable of whatever it is at that moment. I am here to tell you, “You can do all things through Christ Jesus which strengthens you.”
God wants you to calm your spirit, to listen to that still small voice that says “You are mine, I will lead you and guide you, trust me.” The whispers are there, it is the roaring that makes it hard to hear. When you trust Him the lion’s roar is still there, it just does not have the same affect on you. You are looking past the screams and hearing a greater voice of clarity.
As a mother I can hear the noise of my children playing loudly and still focus on the job at hand. That is the same mind set you must keep as you go through a trial. The noise is still there, and it may be overwhelming at times; however, if you keep your focus on God and tell Him the noise is great, He can calm the storm or He may just decide to calm you, His Child, through this time of roaring lions.
I know from experience that when he calms me, it is a calm that passes all understanding; a peace that only if you have experienced it will you know what I am talking about. If He calms the storm, we may or may not always recognize it was God who indeed calmed the storm. It is another way he whispers He loves us, giving us a break in our “Just Trust Me” lesson.
God is crazy about you! His word says, “Trust Me.” For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11, New International Version (NIV)
See the lion for what he is – toothless with no claws. Christ took care of all that on the cross. Go ahead and Trust Him. Be fearless in the face of your roaring lion and laugh because Christ has taken care of the toothless, clawless lion.
I am resting in the calm Christ has given me in the storm and the roars of Lymphoma, and I have that perfect peace of God. Praise the Lord!