Snakes: Relying on God

A few years ago, I discovered a large black snake in our dog pen and reluctantly killed it because it was too close to our house. Several days later, I was called home to kill another black snake, this time inside our basement where our dog sleeps. The next day, I was cleaning the basement when another snake came slithering down the wall. I’m not a particularly brave person around snakes but not seeing any other options I gathered up my courage and killed snake number three.

That afternoon while tending to our dog, I saw yet another snake crawling down from the ceiling of the same room. I grabbed my shovel again but missed him and the snake escaped into the ceiling.

At this point, I didn’t know whether to call an exterminator or just put a “For Sale” sign in front of the house. That night, the dog stayed with us and we all slept with the lights on imagining snakes crawling all around us.

We called in a wildlife expert and discovered the snakes were using the dog door to come into the house and mate. With his help we were able to seal the entrance and never saw any snakes again. But the next few weeks were filled with tension. We were getting very little sleep. I even cancelled part of my schedule to be around the house more. We were impatient and moody. Why? Snakes!

We all face snake-like obstacles of one kind or another. The phone call from the doctor’s office asking to see you right away. A sleepy driver runs through a stop sign directly in front of your car. The sudden unplanned bill in the mail. The boss who chastises you. The friend who suddenly won’t speak to you.

A sudden movement catches your eye and out comes a slithering snake of unplanned difficulties. The final part of Peter’s letter in the Bible warns of snake-like difficulties.

Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He sneaks around like a slithering snake, looking for someone to devour. (I replaced roaring lion with slithering snake. Same meaning.)

Stand firm against him and be strong in your faith. Remember that your family of believers all over the world is going through the same kind of suffering you are. In his kindness God called you to share in his eternal glory by means of Christ Jesus. So after you have suffered a little while, he will restore, support, and strengthen you, and he will place you on a firm foundation. All power to him forever! Amen. (1 Peter 5:8-11)

The lessons from 1 Peter chapter 5?

• Stay alert. Watch out.
• Stand firm and be strong in your faith.
• Other believers are suffering too.
• You will suffer for a little while.
• But God will restore, support and strengthen you.

Are there snakes slithering down the walls of your life? Have they soured your disposition and challenged your faith? Stay Alert. Watch out. Stand firm and be strong in your faith. Other believers are suffering too. You will suffer for a little while. But God will restore, support and strengthen you. “Wow! I feel safer already. Do you?