What do you know about rabbits? 1
Let’s see how you did!
If you drive through your neighborhood and see a rabbit running beside you, don’t be surprised. Rabbits can quickly accelerate to run 35 mph.
Unlike a famous cartoon bunny, a rabbit’s favorite food is not the carrot. They prefer hay, greens and disgustingly, their own poop.
The depth of a rabbit’s hole varies, but can reach 10’ before connecting to a tunnel leading to their burrow. Some rabbits even dig multiple holes. Why? To escape when they encounter problems. Which works unless they pop into the wrong hole.
WHAT DO WE DO WHEN WE ENCOUNTER PROBLEMS?
WHICH RABBIT HOLE DO WE TAKE?
Unfortunately, not every rabbit hole leads to the tunnel connecting to their burrow. Some are false holes leading nowhere to prevent enemies from sneaking in. What if a poor rabbit is anxious? He could pop down into the wrong hole and be trapped!
How about when problems make us anxious?
If our thoughts
focus on problems,
they can lead us down the wrong rabbit hole.
The more we think and talk about the problem, the deeper down the rabbit hole we go. Before we realize it, our thoughts and speech have trapped us in a hole frantically looking for an escape. Our anxious thoughts have only made us more anxious.
For as he thinks within himself, so is he,
Proverbs 23:7 TLV
Don’t worry, even with the trickiest problems, the Lord can give us inventive solutions to escape.
FIRST,
WE HAVE TO FIND THE RIGHT RABBIT HOLE!
Which is the right rabbit hole? For a rabbit, isn’t it any hole that they can pop in that leads to the tunnel connected to their peaceful burrow?
HOW ABOUT FOR US?
It’s giving Jesus our problem
so that our thoughts focus on Him.
With our mind on Jesus, we have popped into the right rabbit hole where He can lead us through the tunnel to His place of peace.
Be anxious for nothing,
but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving,
let your requests be made known to God;
and the peace of God,
which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus,
Philippians 4:6-7
WHAT ABOUT THOSE SNEAK ATTACKS?
BE PREPARED!
If our problems sneak back into our thoughts, we can be prepared like a rabbit.
How are rabbits prepared to escape their sneaky enemies? Well, their large floppy ears are not just for show. Their sharp sense of hearing and rotating ears alert them to their enemy’s approach, so they can prepare to escape. Once they escape to the burrow, they can feed on the hay they have stockpiled in preparation for times of need.
We may not have rotating ears, but by hearing God’s Word we can be prepared when our problems sneak back into our thoughts.
As we speak or listen to God’s Word,
it builds our faith
reminding us that God can handle any problem
by either
destroying it,
guiding us around it
or carrying us through it.
So, then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by
the word of God,
Romans 10:17
Just as a rabbit stockpiles food for times of need, we can prepare a stockpile too. Rather than feeding on hay, we feed on God’s Word stockpiling it in our hearts.
If our minds wander off the Lord onto our problems, we can dwell on God’s Word stored in our hearts. It will reroute us to the right rabbit hole and lead us into His place of love, joy and peace.
When your words came, I ate them;
they were my joy and my heart’s delight,
for I bear your name, Lord God Almighty,
Jeremiah 15:16 NIV
WHAT IF I’M ASKED ABOUT THE PROBLEM?
It’s certainly impossible not to think about a problem if we are asked about it, isn’t it? So, what do we do?
“We don’t need to deny reality, but we do want to speak and act in faith as we trust our loving God to be victorious. So, what do we say when we are broke, and someone asks if we have enough money to pay our bills? Perhaps we say, ‘Not at this moment, but I trust the Lord will provide.’ “2
Problems are a part of life. We may not have a rabbits’ burrow to escape into, but through the Lord we can escape to His place of peace.
Casting all your care upon Him,
for He cares for you,
1 Peter 5:7
REFLECTION
Which rabbit hole have you gone down?
PRAYER
Heavenly Father, as I write Philippians 4:6-7 and say it aloud, help me to recognize when I am heading down the wrong rabbit hole. Help me to prepare a stockpile of Your words, so that I can keep my thoughts focused on You. In Jesus name. Amen.
IN FAITH POP IN THE RIGHT RABBIT HOLE
Comment!
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*For information on making Jesus Christ your Savior, email me or visit, http://www.peacewithgod.net/
Photos 4 rabbits, Julie R, Hutchrock, Theo Halbe, FeeLona
Photo rabbit hole, liveinlondon
Photo 2 rabbits, Valeria-Reverdo
Photo fox, Zdenek Machacek
1 Rabbit info; pangovet.com, modern farmer.com, enviroliteracy.org
2 Growing Faith One Day At A Time, Diane Lese
