EXPOSE | Being Weak Draws Unwanted Attention
“Mountain lions detect vulnerabilities in their prey and attack the weakest… The enemy of your hope and happiness hunts with that same instinct… a cold-hearted and ruthless hunger for the weak or hurting.” – Marshall Segal
EXPLORE | Wounded? Wondering? Watch out
When I was growing up, long before we had 3,000+ cable channels, and in particular, Animal Planet, my family and I would watch Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom each Sunday night on one of the only 3 channels in existence at that time.
I really liked that show–until the lion needed to eat.
Those poor, innocent Gazelle. It wasn’t long before you’d see the lion lurking in the tall grass, locking onto the weak with that cold, dead stare. I may or may not have closed my eyes until the next commercial break.
It seems that any herd we run with, being young, weak, or hurt, will be extremely attractive to those on the hunt. And, sadly, there are hunters among us. As it is in the wild, we too are not always able to see what is crouched, hidden in the tall grass, waiting to pounce on our weakness, ignorance, or ailing condition.
I am speaking primarily of the one that seeks to destroy our souls–and he is ravenous.
Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.
1 Peter 5:8 (ESV)
You might take the Apostle’s description to be a little overstated, but Peter is speaking from experience.
In Luke 22:31-32, Jesus told him specifically that he would be “sifted like wheat” because Satan “demanded to have you.” Just picture that exchange: Satan pleading to Jesus to have the chance to take Peter out.
We are especially vulnerable when we are suffering or in a weakened state. This can be emotional, physical, or spiritual. When we let these areas go undiagnosed or unaddressed, we become an easy target. We’re essentially hanging a sign around our necks that says, “pick me.”
A lion attacks more viciously when he draws blood. Like the lion, Satan shows no mercy. When his attacks begin to destroy and ruin a life, he continues to do all he can for further destruction.”
openthoumineeyes.com, The Bible View #108
Our being wounded or wondering should be a hint that we’re running the risk of attracting unwanted attention, which is why Peter urges us to think clearly and remain vigilant. When you take a good look at yourself, are you giving the “roaring lion” any reason to target you? Are you unknowingly or unnecessarily vulnerable?
EXECUTE | Get to Safety. Get Better. Rejoin the Herd.
Most Sundays just before the message, the pastoral prayer at our church will include a request for God to meet the hurting among us. Our vulnerability can easily go unnoticed because we are so good at hiding it, or, ignoring it, so it is good that we are reminded of it by his calling our attention to it. If not, it can surely perpetuate the hurting, delay the healing, and leave us completely exposed.
So, this is my ‘pastoral prayer’, if you will, to call attention to our need to ask ourselves if we are hurting and vulnerable.
Honestly ask, am I hurting? Weak? Vulnerable?
It first requires the humility to observe whether or not there are any indications you may be walking wounded? It may be accentuated in one area but will have implications in others. What affects us emotionally can also impact us spiritually, or, we may experience physical symptoms. Have you separated yourself from ‘the herd’? Are you avoiding prayer? Avoiding church? Avoiding people? It may not be so obvious, so spend the time necessary to determine whether or not you are compromised. Find a safe place, even include someone you can trust, to identify any hurt or vulnerability.
Actively treat the issue
Identifying a vulnerability is the beginning. The next step would be to decisively and thoroughly treat the problem. This might require you to seek out those who are specifically trained to help you through what you need to address, but it certainly means, as a first step, trusting God to protect then heal.
He (Satan) is always looking for a way to maneuver us into a position by ourselves where he can leap out of nowhere to maul us. Once he attacks, he causes great pain—but he does not go immediately for the kill. He pins us down and wounds us first. Even while in his grasp, though, we can call out for help. “The LORD is near to all who call upon him, . . . He also hears their cry, and saves them” (Psalm 145:18-19, RSV).
Mike Ford, Stalked By Satan
Strength in numbers
One of several lessons we had the opportunity to learn from the pandemic is the detriment of being isolated. There is strength, among other benefits, in numbers. There will come a point when you’ll once again, run with the herd, so to speak. That is important because it not only means you’re healthy enough to do so, it also means you’ll remain so because of the benefit it provides. As the body of Christ, we care for the hurting or weakened member, to eventually become the person that, in turn, can provide that same support to others.
When we’re wounded or compromised, we are weak. And when we are weak, we are vulnerable. It really is a matter of when, not if, we’ll find ourselves vulnerable to the merciless attack of the enemy. Get to safety. Get better. Rejoin the herd.
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Further Reading:
Satan hunts among the hurting
Beware of lions
Satan as predator
