Feeling Trapped?

I just went for a walk down some slopy paths among the trees. The plants and bushes were overgrown, stretching their arms over the dirt path I could clearly see just a few months ago. I was walking slowly, the sun poking through gaps among the trees, when I had to stop. If I'd kept going, I would've walked right through a spider web. Instead, I stopped, my face about two inches from it at eye level. I noted the victim-one lonely fly, all wrapped up and helpless, at one side of the web, and at the other, the spider, nonchalantly making his (or her) way toward the prey. It struck me, after a moment surveying the scene, that this how the devil works. It may seem a simple analogy, but one worth noting all the same. You see, he is always trying to catch us out; always trying to pull us down, so that he can devour us (1 Peter 5:8). Once he's got us caught in a place where he wants us, we are pretty helpless. Just like the fly, we can't get out under our own strength, no matter how much we struggle. Maybe this is why the spider was in no hurry to reach the fly-for he (or she) knew it wasn't going anywhere!

Thankfully for us, it's not all bad news. There is a way out, no matter how bad or desperate our situations may be, and his name is Jesus Christ. EVERYONE who calls on his name will be saved (Acts 2:21), and he is the only one to have stood up and resisted Satan's tempting when he tried to make him slip up (Luke 4:1-13). His death on the cross and resurrection defeated Satan too. Jesus is the only one who HAS conquered Satan, and we can live in his victory, if we choose to. Whatever temptation or difficulty we are faced with, it's not too big for him to handle. But this happening requires us asking him! So whatever you are going through, give it up to Jesus. And watch as the spider become the fly!!!

:)