By Rae Lynn DeAngelis
As a kid, I used to love to go for rides on the back of my dad’s motorcycle. It was a lot of fun but dangerous too. In fact, the prospect for danger was evident before the bike ever rolled away. Scorching metal with the potential to singe skin in an instant was in the same place where a passenger’s leg came to rest. A design flaw to be sure.
My brother, sister, and I were all given explicit instructions for how to safely mount and dismount the bike, but at some point each one of us grew careless. The result was always a nasty burn that took weeks to heal.
Telling us to be careful wasn’t enough. We had to experience the pain of getting burned before the lesson fully stuck.
Unfortunately, not much has changed in forty plus years. At times I still grow careless and suffer consequences for my lack of attention.
“Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings.” (1 Peter 5:8-9)
God gives us plenty of counsel in His Word to help protect us from danger, but we still live in a fallen world, and as a result, pain and suffering come into our lives.
But thankfully, in the midst of great trial and intense heat, God gives us hope.
“Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.” (Isaiah 43:1-2)
Jesus to the rescue! He either pulls us out or walks us through.
Jesus said, “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)
