Have you ever seen a mouse cornered by a cat?
credit to http://www.flickr.com/jenniferbarnard Aug. 20, 2007
Not by a dog. Rover sniffs and snuffles, overjoyed that he’s closing in on the prey. With a dog there’s still hope to use lightning speed for an escape. But a cat? A cat seems to anticipate every possible escape route. He’s as quick as the mouse. And the mouse knows it.
At which point the mouse freezes. Either he becomes an offering to this ferocious god, or by some miracle, Tiger will wander off and ignore him.
I know a lot of people who behave like mice. Life has knocked them down, Satan has chased them into a corner. Any move toward freedom, and he’ll pounce. Both fight and flight are futile. Satan can anticipate every move (people are so predictable). Their only hope is to remain motionless, to give up on the situation, and maybe, just maybe, Satan will turn from his amusements and leave them to survive another day.
However, people have more options than the poor mouse. A mouse might get lucky if someone passes by and scares off the cat, but every human being on this planet has the opportunity to call to Jesus for rescue, to beg Him to step in and toss Satan out. It’s the whole reason He came to earth – to seek and save the lost, including the cornered.
Christians have even less reason to freeze in fear. Satan is not allowed to destroy us.
Guido Reni’s Archangel Michael, credit to it.wikipedia.org
Before some readers start to fume that people, including Christians, are destroyed every day by evil, let me clarify. Satan might destroy our bodies, but he can’t destroy our souls. God often steps in and prevents harm to His children on earth, but if He chooses not to, those children will live with Him in heaven forever. (Daniel 3:16-18)
Back to fearful mice. What if the mouse is blind? He knows the cat is present by his sense of smell, and he may hear the swish of a tail or a hiss of breath, but he doesn’t realize the cat is in a cage. It can’t get to him. But the mouse remains paralyzed with fear. His ears and nose tell him the enemy is near, and he has no hope other than to stay frozen.
Cat in a Cage by Gottfried Mind
Christians often forget that Satan is caged. We sense the oppression of his nearness, and we freeze in fear. We may call upon Jesus for rescue, but we don’t need it. Our eyes are scrunched shut waiting for disaster, when all we need to do is open them and realize there is no way to fall into Satan’s clutches. We are free to seek refuge, to flee far from that cage just in case Satan reaches between bars to try to take a swipe at us.
credit to chirilas at deviantart.com
Refuge in God’s strong tower is no farther than reaching our hands upward. Jesus will grip our hands and pull us to safety. No sweat.
Amen! Greater is he that is in us than he that is in the world! We don’t need to fear. 🙂
Another great scripture to use on this topic! Thank you.
Great blog! The problem with freezing in fear is that we fall to act. I think that’s where I am right now; time to act in the faith that our enemy is caged. I have heard it said that the phrase “fear not,” in its various wording, is found 365 times in the Bible.
Candice, I’m glad that the post spoke to you! I hope that you have already reached upward for His hand. He’ll take the next step with you!
Yes! Loved this! For one, I just experienced a strange sort of attack from Satan. LIterally, I froze much like the mouse. Caught off guard, I had no idea how to respond to the onslaught of attack. But suddenly, God gave me the resolve and power to respond in grace. Sadly, I look back at that incident and wonder “What the heck just happened?” God showed me it was a full on attack of the evil one. The evil one lurks in the most unusual places. But God is stronger and He heals the wounds afflicted.
Marcie, isn’t it amazing that even when we know Satan is lurking and prepared to attack, we’re still surprised when it comes! It’s so difficult to maneuver in the spiritual when all we can see with our eyes right now is the physical. I’m glad God moved in the situation and reminded you of everything you needed in order to respond according to His will.
Amen. Truly, He is our ever=present help in times of trouble! Good post, thanks.
Thank you, Beth.
Wow! What a powerful and encouraging word! I really needed this reminder. Sometimes, it feels like the challenges and hard times are rolling in wave after wave and it can feel like we are under an unending attack. Your words help put things in the right perspective. Satan is a defeated foe. Jesus is Lord now and forever!
Oh, that makes me feel good, just reading your response! Satan is defeated. Jesus is Lord!