Just When I Thought I Lost The Battle!

Back in February I wrote about “The Squirrel That Won’t Give Up!” (See February 2, 2018)  Since then I have had a continual battle with two squirrels that would repeatedly get onto my birdfeeder and in one day eat up all the birdseed.  I tried everything in to book to keep them away—moving the bird feeder, cayenne pepper, a beveled metal top, greasing the pole with motor oil.  Multiple times, even as Kim and I were eating dinner, I would suddenly go running out of the house towards the bird feeder, making all kinds of mean squirrel noises to chase the squirrels away, causing them to scamper up the trees. Within a few minutes, however, they would be back.  I thought it was a lost cause!  I thought I had lost the battle!

Then it happened! I came across what claimed to be a squirrel-proof bird feeder.  I had to try it. And, guess what! It works!  The food is put into an inner section that then has a wire metal sleeve over it. When the birds sit on the outer sleeve, they have access to the food. When a squirrel sits on it, its weight pushes down the sleeve causing the seed to become inaccessible.  Thus, each time the squirrel climbs up the pole and makes its way onto the feeder, it finds itself wondering what has happened and to his sadness and my joy, he makes his way down the pole and leaves with a seemingly look of defeat.  Yes, I think I finally beat the squirrel!  (And, believe me the birds are having a party!)

Squirrel relegated to the ground!

Now the birds can enjoy the bird feeder

Have you ever felt like something in life had you beaten? Maybe you were about to give up. Maybe you are about to give up. It might be the disappointment of applying to job after job and repeatedly coming up empty. It could be the illness that just won’t leave your body alone, no matter how many doctors’ visits you make.  You might have tried time and again to repair a relationship, but to no avail.  Maybe it’s that sin that keeps on rearing its head or that bad habit you just can’t break.  Whatever it is, you feel like it’s a lost cause; you feel like you’ve lost the battle!

I want to remind us, however, it is not God’s intent for us to live our lives filled with feelings of defeat.  With him, there is no lost cause.  Oh, the situations of life may not always turn out the way we would like them to. You may not always find that quick fix on a shelf at the local store. Yet, God is able to work in our lives in such a way that, at just the right time he breathes into us new hope, reveals a solution, brings an unexpected healing, or takes what is so seemingly terrible and uses it for our eternal good. God speaks, works, touches, moves—often at the most unexpected times and in the most unexpected ways; just when you thought you had lost the battle!

The Apostle Paul wrote, “And, we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28 – NIV)

The battle’s not over! God is working in your life. Keep on looking to him. He has—he is—the solution to all that you are facing in your life today! 

Have a great day!

Pastor Tim Harris