Lions. The other day we were talking about how they attack. You can read it here if you like. I find it simply fascinating how 1 Peter 5:8 describes the enemy as a lion. I think there are a few similarities we can discover by understanding a lion’s attack tendencies.
The one that I thought was particularity fascinating is what happens when a lion pounces upon its prey. Check this out. A lion will pin a gazelle to the ground, take its powerful jaws and place them around the neck of gazelle. Looking into its eyes it will suffocate the gazelle while staring into its eyes. The last thing the gazelle sees is the eyes of the lion.
What does that have to do with us?
Haven’t you ever been in an intimidating situation or circumstance where you felt that it was impossible to give voice to what you are going through? A secret sin, a shameful experience, an abusive situation. The reality is that isolation often leads to silent suffering. That gazelle who was moments ago in the proximity of its herd, now finds itself alone and silent due to this precise and planned attack.
Why do I talk about this today?
Simple.
I have spoken to quite a few people in the last few weeks who are disconnecting from the body of Christ, and while we spoke, I tried to provide a safe place from them to open up about their circumstance, but they just couldn’t vocalize the root pain. They could share the frustration, anger, feeling, but not the root pain. It breaks my heart when I, or when I see others backing themselves into isolation in the attempt to protect themselves. Even worse is when they go silent about their pain, thinking they can get through it on their own. It just breaks my heart because you can see the attack full on at that point. I know it, because I have fallen for it and experienced it countless times in my own life.
My prayer for people in pain today is that they would muster the strenght to reach out for help while everything inside of them would be screaming to do the opposite. That they would know that the enemy of their soul is not a lion, that he merely acts as one, but according to Scripture there is only one LION of this tribe. And He never stalks you as his prey.
Break out of isolation today and take a step into community.
Call that trusted friend and ask them to listen and pray to your root pain.
Know that someone in chilly Ottawa is praying for you today, and that you are not alone.
