05.16.08

But the Lord stood with me and strengthened me, so that the message might be preached fully through me, and that all the Gentiles might hear. Also I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion. And the Lord will deliver me from every evil work and preserve me for His heavenly kingdom. To Him be glory forever and ever. Amen! - 2 Timothy 4:17.

Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand. - Isaiah 41:10.

So we may boldly say: “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?” - Hebrews 13:6.

For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. 2 Timothy 1:7.

On June 8, 2004, Anne Hjelle came very close to dying when a mountain lion attacked her. Earlier, on the same day, the same lion had killed another biker near to where Anne was attacked. Debi Nichols riding with Anne tried to help her friend during the attack. Debi threw her bike at the lion and then grabbed hold of Anne’s leg trying to hold onto her while the lion was trying to drag Anne away. Three more bikers arrived and they threw rocks at the lion driving it away.

Anne suffered 40 bites and wounds which included severe trauma to the left side of her face. Six surgeries have repaired some things but one side of her face is still disfigured. In spite of this terrible thing Anne continues on and her faith is very strong. A week after the attack with 200 stitches and staples holding her together she hiked back to where the attack occurred with family and friends. Today she continues to ride her bike in the same area and even has a painting of a mountain lion hanging in her bedroom. She speaks often about her attack and her faith which has sustained her and continues to sustain her because she knows that the Lord is beside her still as He was on that day in 2004 when the lion attacked.

The apostle Peter tells us to “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour (1 Peter 5:8).” Our enemy, the devil, delights in seeing our fear. That old devil wants us to become so fearful that we will become paralyzed with fear and unable to do or say anything for the Lord. It is a stark contrast between the enemy seeking to bring fear into our lives and that of the Lord who “…has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.”

God would have His children to be confident warriors marching forward to enlarge His kingdom. What can man or even a lion do to you? The apostle Paul knew that the very worst that could happen to him here on this earth was death. He had no fear of death because he knew that if he were to die he would then be in the presence of the Lord (2 Corinthians 5:8). There is no need for you to live in fear because the Lord will “uphold you with My righteous right hand.” Jesus says, “And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. Are not two sparrows sold for a copper coin? And not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father’s will. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows (Matthew 10:28-30).”