"The dragon rolled over. 'Look!' he said, 'What do you say to that?'""'Dazzlingly marvellous! Perfect! Flawless! Staggering!' exclaimed Bilbo aloud, but what he thought inside was: 'Old fool! Why there ia a large patch in the hollow of his left breast as bare as a snail out of its shell!'"
As I sat holding Colton in his room, I was reminded of this scene from The Hobbit where Bilbo discovers the fatal weakness in Smaug the dragon's armor. During the past week, several small things had built up and I'd begun to feel anxious.
Like Smaug, I've got a chink(s) in my armor that the enemy uses to attack me whenever stress starts to build up. My weak spot tends to be guilt about things done in the past. This time was no exception. As I held my baby in his peaceful nursery, I felt that old familiar anixiety and those tired, worn out thoughts creeping around me.
Instead of inviting those thoughts in to stay a while, I thought of Smaug and his bare patch of unprotected flesh. Smaug was convinced he had no weakness, and his pride caused him to be an easy target. If he'd only guarded his vulernable areas, he would've remained strong.
To me, that looks like this: Yes, I have areas of vulnerability - places where Satan will always be ready to attack. When things are easy, these attacks are easy to hold off. But, it's when things are difficult that I'm an easy target. In a moment of weakness, I can give in, put down the shield that covers my frail, human armor. Or I can choose to wake up, see the arrow coming straight at me and lift up my shield. This time, I picked up the shield. It's not easy, but neither is being shot with a spiritual arrow and writhing in the pain that follows.
My prayer is to grow more "shrewd" toward the enemy's attacks and to always be covered in the full armor of God.
Ephesians 6:10-13 (CEV)
Finally, let the mighty strength of the Lord make you strong. Put on all the armor that God gives, so you can defend yourself against the devil's tricks. We are not fighting against humans. We are fighting against forces and authorities and against rulers of darkness and powers in the spiritual world. So put on all the armor that God gives. Then when that evil day comes, you will be able to defend yourself. And when the battle is over, you will still be standing firm.
4 comments:
My dear daughter, just as we were talking yesterday about the path or the road we are on - that road of course is a spiritual road. You are not shot off the road by regrets, you are not off in a field far from the road, hiding behind a boulder,because of regrets, you are still on that road to God. He is the light upon your path, He is the lamp unto your feet. Though you stumble, the light is still there. When you stumble, you learn to empathize with others. That empathy can bless others. I have alot of empathy, I have stumbled a lot, and I am not stumble proof yet even at my "advancing years", but I know where my road ends. I know who my Redeemer is. I just don't know what I am going to encounter as I continue on the road. Your foundation is God's word, your faith is in Him. He will keep you, you will not be blown from your path by regrets. You are not on I-40 East heading to California. You are on the right path. I Love You, Mom.
Thank you Summer. That was good.
Totally appreciate that. I too have those moments.
I'm trying to be more on guard, too! Thanks for the encouraging post!
Post a Comment