HORNET
I was on my back porch, settled in, taking a Zoom training class for the upcoming election, when a large black hornet came and invaded my space. The thing about hornets is they are large and very intimidating, flying creatures. I watched carefully as he flew around my area and he was too close for me to comfortably move. My husband must have spotted my discomfort and came out to assess the situation and went back in, and came armed with a weapon …wasp spray. But before he was able to activate his airborne weapon, the hornet burrowed down into a hole in a antique weathered bench that I use as my ottoman. It was over for the hornet….wrong choice, for he was sprayed right there, in what he thought to be his place of safety, and a large candle was placed atop his burial place.
I tell you this story because we are often times are faced with hornet soaring fears that fly around us. The are big, consuming and intimidating and kind of keep us smothered in place til we find a way to get free from their threat or destroy their very existence.
Hornets usually nest, for they are in the wasp family. This hornet was a lone flyer and no way his nest could have been in that small hole that he burrowed down in. But with one hornet comes the possibility of others surrounding him. Such it is with fear. If we let one fear loose, then that one fear has the tendency to nest with others and then they just gain momentum and become a threat to the peace, joy and confidence that God provides for us in our own existence.
God’s weapons are mighty to fight off and defend us from the fears that come flying upon us and surround us. And his greatest weapon begins with our FAITH or our belief. And following faith comes trust, the action word.
It boils down to this: faith is a belief system; trust is action. Faith is believing that God is who God says He is and that what God can do, only God can do. But trust takes things a step further. It is making the willful choice to trust that God will do what He promises. The head versus heart.
There are enemies surrounding us who set out to destroy, sting and wreak havoc on us hoping we are unprepared and unaware of their existence. Oh but when we call upon the Lord, he initiates his power and oversight over that which is harmful in our presence and counteracts and protects us from the those fears that are trying to grip us and cause havoc in our hearts and our minds.
When we pray, we are attacking our nest of fears by the power of the Holy Spirit. And the nest of fears is knocked down by HIS strength; we cannot do it on our own without his help. (I sometimes try, but am defeated each time). Just like that hornet that burrowed down in a hole thinking he was safe, we too try to hide from our fears and suppress them instead of giving them to God to smother and destroy. If we seek God through prayer and trust his word, we are able to stand confidently on HOPE that follows our relinquished fears. But we must truly work to enhance our trust and stand on the hope that comes from his mighty interactions.
It was just a large black hornet…hovering….and he was smothered, destroyed and buried. Ask God to smother the hornets that may be hovering over you. He will, you know! You can be confident of that. Rely on his very word and trust him completely.
Guard my life, for I am faithful to you; save your servant who trusts in you. You are my God;
Praise God wherever you are and whatever situation He has allowed you to be in . . . His glory will shine through!
