The Devil’s Snare

In Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s
stone they introduce something called the Devil’s Snare. It is a
plant with magical properties. It has the ability to constrict or
strangle it’s surroundings. Struggling or resistance to it will cause
the plant to exert a greater force of constriction. The harder a
person struggles against Devil’s Snare, the more faster and more
tightly it binds them; if they relax, it will not kill them as
quickly. Devil’s snare prefers a dark, damp environment. It will stop
its movement in the environment of bright light and will recoil away
from the heat of fire.

This somehow popped into my mind
earlier this week, or perhaps the Lord reminded me of this. This
mystical and fictional plant quite accurately depicts how I have been
feeling in my relationship with God. I feel like I am being sucked
into something that isn’t Him, but the harder I try to get out of it,
the deeper I find myself. It doesn’t make sense. One would think that
the harder you fight for God in all circumstances would bring you
closer to Him. That is not the case today.

In this Harry Potter movie, when the
characters are trapped in the Devil’s Snare, they get very nervous.
Of course their first instinct is to fight back against the plant.
Only when they relax, are still, and give up the fight is when they
are released from the snare. They fall through the vines and are
free!

For myself, when I feel like God is
distant my first instinct is to fight back. Instead of finding peace
in the fact that he promises to “never leave or forsake” me, I
fight against whatever is surrounding me. That is me trying to take
this into my own hands. That’s not my place.

He reached down from on high and took hold of me; 

he drew me out of deep waters.

He rescued me from my powerful enemy, 

from my foes, who were too strong for me.

They confronted me in the day of my disaster, 

but the Lord was my support.

He brought me out into a spacious place; 

he rescued me because he delighted in me. 

Psalm 18 :16-19

That is God’s place! I need to step
down and let Him be the Father, for that is what He is. He is a
gentleman and He doesn’t need me to run after Him. He will be there
waiting for me on a white stallion with the most perfect sunset in
the background, which He painted for this exact moment.

And how perfect is it that the Devil’s Snare loses its grip when it is exposed to light and fire? The Devil has no hold on me because of Jesus. He is that Light! His love is that fire!

 

Its like my world’s caving in

And I
try but I can’t control my fear

Where do I go from
here?

When You feel so far
away

But I am willing to go

Where you want me to

God, I
trust You

There’s a raging sea

Right in front of me

Wants
to pull me in

Bring me to my knees

So let the waters rise

If
You want them to

I will follow You

 Let the Waters Rise, Mikes Chair