God shows up in unexpected places (well at least in places I didn't expect him to be) which is funny because His word reveals that He is with us, in us, and around us so if anything I should believe and expect that He is everywhere. During my recent vacation I had plans to go hiking in a new place everyday with my dogs. I am THAT ambitious. To be honest, I think my dogs are happy I am back at work now! During these hikes, I had not planned on being challenged in my faith...that is the unexpected bit.
I didn't grow up in Canada so admitting that I now live in what is cutely named bear country is hard for me to do. Combine that denial with a mum who we (my siblings and I) are easily able to freak out on walks by saying a scratch on a tree is from a bear and you get me, an individual who isn't entirely comfortable hiking in bear country yet loves being outdoors.
Therefore, I put certain measures in place. The first measure is when I go to a new hike location I only proceed with the hike if there are no signs cautioning about bears, cougars etc. This worked well for a while. I would start a hike feeling serene because there were no cautionary signs only for signs to start popping up halfway into the trail. How dare those wild animals move from place to place!
This may not seem like a big deal, but to me, it sort of felt like having the rug ripped from underneath my feet, any sense of peace in nature I had was gone. After this happened more than a few times, I started becoming obsessive, watching videos on bear attacks, researching the pros and cons of bear spray, reading articles about what to do if you come across a bear. I suppose I was trying to get some sense of control back. However, control is an illusion and no obsession is ever from God so I knew that I needed to figure out a way to enter His rest again. I prayed, I reflected on scripture and then God revealed something to me.
I am doing a bible study called Be Anxious for Nothing by Joyce Meyer and it focuses on casting your cares and resting in God. Due to the fact I was on vacation I was really able to engage in this study on a daily basis. When you are growing in faith and growing in your relationship with God, spiritual attacks may happen especially in the area in which you are studying and growing in. I didn't expect that because of this bible study and what God is revealing to me through it that I would experience a spiritual attack around anxiety and worry in nature but it happened. God helped me heal this anxiety, accept that I live in a place with wildlife and have faith that He is going to take care of me.
Spiritual attacks are often unexpected although it may be in our best interest to expect them from time to time. I know if I had, I would not have struggled with such intense anxiety for days. My prayer for you is that when spiritual attacks come your way rather than feeling hopeless or giving up, stand on His word, speak His word over your life, and most of all cast these cares onto God so that you can enter into His rest.
