Have you ever seen the movie Arachnophobia? I first watched it when I was in elementary school, and I am confident it has warped my view of spiders. In the film, arachnids are menacing and aggressive, and that is exactly how I see them to this day. Once I was on the phone with my sister when I saw a spider on my kitchen floor, I let out a gasp and informed her of the intruder. She laughed at me and told me to kill it. Um, no way! What if I missed and it headed my way to bite me (or bite my head off)? To me, spiders don’t run away in fear from a human trying to kill it… instead, they seek revenge for attempted homicide. I imagine them on the ceiling, seeing people walking below, and then jumping down to strike. Clearly, I have issues.
So, imagine the trial by fire I have been dealing with since moving to a farm. There are spiders all over the inside and outside of our house. I have to face my fears many times a day.
A spider’s web looks delicate, but it has very high tensile strength. I discovered this the other day as I set out on a mission to rid our wrap around porch of all the eight-legged intruders. Not wanting to get too close, I swiped at them with a broom and sprayed them at full blast with our hose, but neither approach succeeded in clearing out the webs. As I began trying different tactics, my determination to destroy their habitats doubled. I was out to rid my house of any signs of spiders.
As all of this unfolded, I found myself praying, “Lord, make me like a spider’s web.”
I realize it sounds strange, but let me explain.
The Bible tells us that Satan prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour (1 Peter 5:8). I too walked my porch with eyes out for any web I could eradicate. John 10:10 says that the devil comes only to kill, steal, and destroy. Likewise, I was out to kill, steal, and destroy any spider and its home. The enemy is ruthless and stops at nothing in his quest to bring us down. He may start with standard tactics, but then will become more aggressive and precise in his battle plans against us.
Each spider web is a uniquely beautiful reflection of its creator. Cobwebs seem to balance tenderness and strength perfectly. A spider knows what lands in its web based on what it feels. By the vibrations alone, a spider knows if what flies into its web is prey (an insect they enjoy), a predator (such as a wasp), or merely a falling leaf.
As I contemplated this I continued to pray, “Lord, make me like a spider’s web.”
I want to be a reflection of God’s creativity and love. He uniquely designed me, and I want to display that proudly. I want to be so sensitive to his Spirit so that when a conviction, an opportunity, or even a temptation comes, I am aware and act accordingly. I long to develop a high tensile strength so that I can withstand the plots and attacks from the one who is out to destroy me.
As much as I dislike spiders, God is using them to create a beautiful visual of what He wants to develop in all of our lives.
But ask the animals, and they will teach you, or the birds in the sky, and they will tell you; or speak to the earth, and it will teach you, or let the fish in the sea inform you. Which of all these does not know that the hand of the Lord has done this? In his hand is the life of every creature and the breath of all mankind. ~ Job 12:7-10
What else in nature reminds you of spiritual truths?
darby dugger
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