When You Least Expect It

“Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.” 1 Peter 5:8 ESV

In a distressing story titled, “NC runner recalls being attacked by momma bear” published by WRAL News out of North Carolina yesterday, the following was reported: An Asheville runner survived a harrowing encounter with a momma bear protecting her cub. Bill is a runner, and he hits the trails near his home at least two to three times a week. He knows them like the back of his hand. But on July 7, he encountered something new on the trail. He was running below a ridge on the trail. "And I come around, and there's probably a 20-pound cub sitting right there on the trail," he said. "When you see a cub like that there's usually a mom around. So I go and I turn around real quick, and all of a sudden there I see the momma bear." The cub took off up the hill, and the momma bear charged him. Thankfully Bill wasn’t seriously harmed in the attack and walked away from the attack with injuries to his finger, face and chest that were treated at the hospital. 

And you know, when it comes to encountering something new on a path or trail we may know like the back of our hand, you and I would do well to remember that “our adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion seeking someone to devour.” This means he can and will appear when and where we least expect him, especially when our guard is down as a good predator does, always inventing new ways to take us out. Which is the very reason Paul warned us to be sober-minded and watchful at all times, resisting the urge to let our guard down, remaining vigilantly aware that the devil is waiting for just the right time to attack and charge. 

So whether you’re new to a trail or have traveled it a million times, never ever let your guard down my friend. And when everything is going as it should in life, resist the urge to become complacent by remembering that the right time to attack and charge is when you’re least expecting it. 

Heavenly Father, thank You for reminding us that our adversary will seek to devour us in ways that we least expect and when we least expect it. Knowing that, cause us to heed Paul’s warning so we won’t be caught unaware. It’s in your precious name we pray Jesus. Amen. 

Happy Running!