But Paul shook the snake off into the fire and suffered no ill effects. Acts 28:5
When I was away getting refreshed and refueled, one day my hubby informed me that it would be a brilliant idea to go for a “little” hike. Remember, I take my strolls in the morning with the dog, so I probably had already walked five miles that day. As the supportive wife that I am, I enthusiastically supported his idea. Ok, fine. I supported his idea.
We drove to our starting point and thoroughly covered ourselves with bug spray before heading out. I was trying to make sure we had everything we needed while the guys became like bobble-heads letting me know they were ready. We had good food, drinks, more bug spray, and a first aid kit. Nope, had to search for the first aid kit. I’m telling you that moms trump boy scouts in preparedness. Oooh, I had to remind them not to forget biodegradable toilet paper too. They’re going with a girl, ok? Did they forget the second thing on the list? Drinks!
We had a destination, and we don’t mess around like turtles getting there. We don’t want to waste our time staring at the road as we trudge along…well maybe I should do that just a tad more. When we get to awesome wildlife, that’s where we want to spend the majority of our time. The ice cream that’s always promised at the end may have had something to do with the pace too.
My youngest loves the Would You Rather game, but my oldest started groaning as soon as it was mentioned because we’ve played it so often. I figured we’d better put a spin on the old favorite before I had a mutiny on my hands. I started asking questions that would require more than one-word answers. We really had to think and get creative with our responses. It was interesting to hear the thoughtful answers and new ideas that were given.
It was my turn to come up with something I’d build for people to visit, and I was really getting into it. I could see it in my mind and was trying to describe the park I came up with in words. I was focused! All of a sudden, my youngest goes into some sort of tribal war dance on me. He’s chanting and dancing with quite a lot of enthusiasm. What was with him? Finally, I made out the word “snake.” Seeing everyone’s reaction, my heart started pounding, my breathing became shallow, and I was searching frantically for the danger that was being posed to my family.
Focusing in on my son, I tried to decipher the snake dance in order figure out where it was located. With his arm out and finger pointed, I used my decoding abilities to find the skinny green snake that was sticking straight out like a stick on the side of the path. As I took gulping breaths from the adrenaline of being so startled by the commotion, I made out the words, “You stepped on it!” I did what? Huh, didn’t realize it and it didn’t even bite me (unlike the mosquitoes), yet I was thinking about what could’ve happened after the fact!
Within a couple of minutes, my thoughts went onto Paul being bit by a snake. I just felt the need to let God know that I appreciated him keeping me safe and reminded him that we’re all believers so there wasn’t any reason for a snake to actually fasten itself to me. We’ll take the lesson and learn from it without him having to go to such extremes. You know what? The next snake that we came across, which was much bigger than the first, slithered out of our path without any excitement. We were able to get a visual instead of being so emotional. Thank you Jesus!
As I was looking back on our exciting, “little”, fifteen-mile hike, I realized a few things. First, I was covered in mosquito bites, which were swelling to the size of baseballs. Lesson one, those nasty things bite through clothing and ignore bug spray when they want to. The after-effects can be worse than going through the attack.
The snake took me a couple weeks to fully understand how significant of a lesson it was. I came to understand that I was so focused on things that were pleasant (God thoughts), that I wasn’t focused on things that could harm me. Hey, I didn’t even know that I’d stepped on a snake until the danger had passed. Plus, it had to be pointed out to me.
The crazy thing was that my heart started racing and I was pretty much gasping for air! Why? The danger was no longer a threat, so I should’ve been past the point of worry. I figured out that it was because my eyes were turned away from the good thoughts (God) and became stuck on what already took place. It wasn’t even in my path any more!
I recognize now that I went right through the dangerous part safely not because of what I did, but in spite of what I did. God had me. It wasn’t that I didn’t get bit because of my right actions, I didn’t get bit because I had a supernatural protection surrounding me. What a waste to use up all my emotions on something that was over with!
There are a variety of dangers that lurk everywhere that can cause us to turn in circles, have our heart race, and make us double over in fear. We can be calm and in control while we’re going through the situation, but we can go into shock after the danger has passed, not because of the incident, but because of our thoughts after the incident.
Conversations can be like my snake to many of us. God can give us the words to say during the chat, while we stand confidently, letting his words flow. It’s later that we get upset. What’s different? Timing. We need to be focused on getting through with dignity and tact (let’s just face it that God is the only source of provision in “those types” of conversations), that there’s no time for worry. It’s when we stop moving forward that we think on what already left our path. When our thoughts go to what could’ve happened (the danger) and what was said, that’s when we get worked up! WHY? It’s over. It is finished.
The second lesson is to always have something that is right to focus on, so we don’t stop moving forward. Those things that have passed, allow to be in the past. We can’t move forward when we’ve stopped to visit the danger we’ve already gone through.
I also see that this will happen in a variety of ways…the outside situations could be different, but the result is always the same. Smooth sailing when keeping our head up and confidence out, panic attack when the danger is over. It’s in our thinking and allowing a situation, a person, or a thought to stop us from moving forward…from keeping to the path and walking straight ahead. It’s not the situation, it’s the focus. It’s like Elijah running away from Jezebel after the miracle took place. He turned fearful and hid after seeing God was with him.
We need to recognize that the devil is out there trying to get us to mess up. If you think of the snake as the devil, I want you to notice something. I wasn’t physically harmed. It didn’t bite me. I even had to be told that I stepped on it, so pay attention to what you’re allowing people to tell you. It could be a matter of moving forward or getting stuck. It was my thoughts on it afterward that created the stress on my body and got my eyes on something other than God and the future. It was visiting the situation and not continuing my hike.
I challenge you to be like Paul today. No, don’t get bit by an actual snake, but when your “snake” fastens itself onto you, shake it off! Keep moving without dwelling on the danger. Learning is one thing, but visiting (taking your shoes off, settling in, and staying a while) is another. Stop wasting time in the areas that are already over and move forward. Paul didn’t just shake off that snake onto the ground, he shook it off into the fire where it became no more. Shake it off!
