My what big teeth you have, Mr. Wolf

Pile your troubles on God’s shoulders—he’ll carry your load, he’ll help you out. He’ll never let good people topple into ruin. (Psalm 55:22)

Virgil was a Roman poet way back in the day and he penned the words, "It never troubles the wolf how many the sheep may be." Ponder that one for a moment and really let it sink in. The wolf is not put off by the huge flock of sheep - he sees the one he is after and then he zeroes in to achieve his target. What he doesn't know is that there is a Shepherd keeping his eye out for each and every one of those sheep in the flock! He has no clue what will await him if he chooses to attack even one of them!

We will know troubles - it is inescapable in this world. We will have things that make us worry a bit - it is human nature to do so. We will encounter wolves and become frightened by their 'huge teeth' - it is part of our fight or flight response. We don't have to fear the troubles, nor do we have to create our own way of escape. That is the main difference between believers and those who have yet to choose to follow Christ. We have been given a watchful Shepherd - one who has no other aim than to keep the wolves away.

So why do we pile one worry upon the other until we are so laden down with cares that our movement is made impossible? If ever we would be subject to an enemy's attack, it would be with our arms so full and our eyes so distracted that we didn't even notice his approach! God's intent was for us to have open and honest dialogue with him - so many of our worries and cares coming because we neglect this one privilege. There is something 'disarming' that happens when we open up to God - one by one the worries we have been amassing begin to be laid at his feet, until we finally begin to feel the freedom of being 'unburdened'. The lightness that comes as those burdens are eased off our shoulders and placed squarely upon his is really like none other.

The wolf preys on those who haven't learned to lay ease those burdens from their heart to the heart of Jesus. He knows how full our hearts, minds, arms, and emotions become when we refuse to let go. That is the planned moment of his attack - when we are so filled up with worries we forget to watch out for him. The good news is that even when we forget to watch, Jesus doesn't! Just sayin!