Apples of Gold

My mother tells me I was sometimes a petulant child. Her attempts to offer assistance  were often met with; “I can do it myself!” While independence is a quality that we should all strive for we can find ourselves misapplying this strength to our own demise, especially when it comes to our spiritual lives. 

When you read through the exploits of the Israelites, you find that at times they had an issue with strong-arming the Lord. 

O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones God’s messengers! How often I have wanted to gather your children together as a hen protects her chicks beneath her wings, but you wouldn’t let me. Luke 13:34

The character of God paints a dynamic picture of an unlimited power supply, voluntarily restrained, awaiting our appeal for help. 

Look! I stand at the door and knock. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal together as friends. Revelation 3:20

We can try to muddle through and figure things out on our own, or opt to call for reinforcements and invite Jesus to take charge. 

I took my troubles to the LORD; I cried out to him, and he answered my prayer. Psalm 120:1

Let’s take this one step further. Depending on God is crucial to our well-being but scripture encourages us to find a “herd” for mutual support and accountability. 

Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble. Ecclesiastes 4:9-10

There is often safety in numbers. Have you ever watched a predator stalk its victim on the animal channel? It usually unfolds something like this:

The lone zebra has wandered off from the herd. It is peacefully drinking at the waterhole unaware of the approaching danger. In the distance a lioness is approaching, cautious not to startle her prey… I have to turn the channel at this point because watching an animal get hurt-other than a spider or a snake-I can’t handle it. So in our house that is a hard click. But this scenario rarely ends well for the zebra.

One of the tactics of predators is to cut a vulnerable animal away from the herd. They understand that getting them into isolation makes them much easier to take down. 

This tactic is not lost on our Enemy. Have you ever noticed when you are dealing with the tough stuff the lure to isolate yourself is almost irresistible? The enemy wants to get you alone, feeling misunderstood and helpless, convinced that judgment and rejection would follow a cry for help. 

Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. Stand firm against him, and be strong in your faith. Remember that your Christian brothers and sisters all over the world are going through the same kind of suffering you are. I Peter 5:8-9

The big secret is not so secret: We all go through things-different things, but the same kind of things none-the-less. When things are so heavy that it is difficult to even pray, allowing others to encourage us, pray for us, and walk beside us is crucial to survival. 

Share each other’s burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ. If you think you are too important to help someone, you are only fooling yourself. You are not that important. Galatians 6:2-3

Sometimes we need prayer. Sometimes we need to pray. When we understand how this works and can choose to be vulnerable with God and each other we are not so vulnerable to the attack of the enemy. 

Bison take an interesting approach to outwitting predators. When a predator approaches they gather the most susceptible to attack, and form a multi-layer circle of protection. The females form a ring around them facing out. Then the males form another ring around the females. Large, sharp horns and powerful hooves often send predators fleeing without even mounting an attack. They move on to an easier target. 

This is the kind of protection we should provide for each other. We all have moments of vulnerability and the protection of our fellow believers in the initial circle is vital. 

The outer layer of protection-the one with the sharp horns and powerful hooves-is where our true defender comes in. While we provide cover and encouragement God surrounds all of us and the enemy knows better than to mess with him. Like the child amazed that the bully is fleeing only to turn and realize that his big brother has stepped in behind him, the Lord is our true defender. 

Those who are most ready to form the line of defense for others often find it quite challenging to step into the middle of the circle and admit that this time we need help. This process also serves as an example to those who have only seen us as unshakable. Sometimes strength is best displayed in the ability to recognize, admit, and verbalize your own needs. The unity displayed by the bison as they safeguard the vulnerable would serve the body of Christ well.