I was half asleep on a summer morning, spreading butter across a cinnamon raisin bagel, when I heard these words coming from our TV: “The lion goes out on patrol every few days to survey his lands and seek out predators that could come against his cubs.” This simple nature fact came from one of the main characters of my daughter’s favorite shows, Wild Kratts.

The Holy Spirit jolted awake my sleepy brain. “That’s what Jesus does for you. Not only does He guard you, but He goes out to seek and destroy the very real enemy on your behalf.”

As I was pondering this idea, Gabrielle spoke up, “Look, Mom, that lion is like Jesus protecting us from the devil and all of his attacks!” It was like she read my mind. Where two or more are gathered, right? And this time, Jesus was confirming the idea in me and her.

Jesus going out on patrol like the Lion of Judah makes me feel more secure and a little nervous all at the same time.

I like that Jesus can be our Lamb of Salvation but never loses His mighty power as the King of all Kings. He doesn’t timidly wait for an attack from the enemy but seeks out the evil and destroys it on our behalf.

Jesus is not afraid of what we will do. He is not afraid of the devil or any form of evil attack. He will protect and provide for us as His children, and we can live in peace because He’s on patrol.

The Lord will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace.
Exodus 14:14 (NKJV)

I think my nervousness comes into play because I realize there is always a threat of attack. And sometimes, I feel alone when Jesus goes on patrol to protect me, even though I know I can choose peace knowing He’s taking care of the situation. As other translations say, I can stay calm, be silent, and be still.

I wonder if sometimes when we feel like Jesus is quiet, when we’re curious if our prayers are being heard, much less answered, and wondering if He’s even there, that really, the arrows are pointing to Jesus as the Lion of Judah. He may be on an offensive patrol during times when we think He is quiet in our lives.

Jesus is fighting for you. He gives you peace you can hold onto while He seeks the enemy on your behalf, fighting your battles, defeating the devil and keeping you in peace.

But it’s your choice to stay at peace while Jesus fights for you.

Every day this week, there has been the opportunity to choose peace in our family’s lives — the opportunity to choose to believe that the Lion of Judah is on patrol and that we can live in peace, stay calm, and trust we will not be conquered.

We’ve had the very real opportunity through health crisis, extremely difficult work situations, financial situations, feelings of loneliness, and all around everyday stress to believe that Jesus was seeking out the enemy on our behalf, fighting our battles.

What we really want is peace in the middle, don’t we? We want to know in the middle of the diagnosis, job loss, feuding friend, political drama, ignoring husband, and rebellious children that Jesus will win, that we will not be overcome by evil.

In the middle of all the forms of attacks we can face and when we feel like we’ve been left to face it alone, you can hold onto your peace. The peace that passes all understanding, that only comes from the Holy Spirit. The peace Jesus left for us, so our hearts will not be troubled or afraid. The peace that Jesus gives because He is the “the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, and [He] has triumphed” (Revelations 5:5).

You can hold onto the peace that Jesus, as the Lamb, died to give you and that He, as the Lion, fights for you to hold onto.

In the peace that Jesus provides, you will not be conquered, no matter the circumstances you are facing. I’m going to choose to hold onto the peace Jesus gave me no matter the circumstances and to look to the horizon for the Lion of Judah to return from His patrol as a victor on my behalf.

 

In the peace that Jesus provides, you will not be conquered, no matter the circumstances you are facing. -Stephanie Bryant: Click To Tweet Leave a Comment