What’s Bugging You?

I have a friend who has a hang-up about bugs. He hates them. He’s always on the lookout for the nasty critters and will go to great lengths to rid the world of as many as he can.

I remember one summer when we were teenagers. He and I went camping together, and we slept in a large five-man tent. It was the kind that was suspended from an external aluminum frame.

One night as we were settling into our sleeping bags, my friend spotted a bug up on the inside ceiling of the tent with his flashlight. Well, of course he couldn’t just leave it there.  He felt it was his personal duty to, “destroy the little sucker”. So, he wiggled out of his sleeping bag, grabbed a wad of Kleenex, and focused his flashlight on the unsuspecting creature. I watched as he carefully planned his attack. Then, with lightning speed he struck a death-blow to yet another victim.

The problem was, when he hit the ceiling with his wad of tissue, the peak of the tent came unhooked from the exterior support system. That started a chain reaction, and within a matter of seconds, the tent was collapsing all around us like a rapidly deflating balloon. After struggling to free myself from my sleeping bag, find the tent flap, and unzip it, I stood there in the moonlight and laughed until my side ached.

How pathetic! There we were in our jockey shorts trying to put our tent back together in the dark, all because one little bug chose the wrong place to spend the night. Reflecting on that experience has helped me understand that I sometimes get overly concerned with the little “bugs” in my life. And in my attempts to deal with them, I often inadvertently find myself dismantling more important things in the process.

All of us encounter circumstances and even people that really bug us. They always seem to happen along at the worst possible moment. Have you noticed how quickly they can become such a distraction that they’re all you can think about?

I believe that most of these bugs are sent by the Devil to distract us from the more important things the Lord is doing in our lives. In fact, right at this very moment – I kid you not – a little gnat is buzzing around my head and driving me so nuts I’m having trouble staying focused on my writing. It’s not surprising that one of Satan’s nicknames is Baal-zebub, which means, “lord of the flies.”  He’s hoping we will fall for his ploy and focus our attention on these pests in order to slow the momentum of God’s work in and through us.

I’ve discovered that there are bugs in my garden only in the spring and summer when the plants are really growing.  In the fall and winter, they’re nowhere to be found. It’s like that in our lives too. They seem to show up in force during seasons of important spiritual growth or ministry.

What’s bugging you today? Is it financial struggles, sickness, pressure at work, someone with chronic problems continually asking for your help but not taking your advice, or is it something else? Whatever it is, it’s probably there because something of God’s purpose is growing in you. Don’t allow these pests to distract you from the wonderful things God is doing.

First, wear protective clothing. Ephesians 6:13-17 tells us that we’ve been provided a full wardrobe to help insulate us from exposure to the bite of satanic pests. The problem is we sometimes forget to wear it. Like a child charging out the door for school without a jacket, we are often in such a rush we neglect spending enough time with Jesus to make sure we are fully clothed. That’s why the passage admonishes us to put on the whole armor of God. Don’t face the challenges of your busy schedule without pausing in the Lord’s presence at the start of each day long enough to make sure you are fully prepared.

Next, stay cool. People often overreact to insects, like the time I almost got into a head-on collision trying to swat a fly while driving down the freeway. The Devil is counting on that. When you worry and fret over the distractions he sends your way, you can find yourself buried by them. It’s just like the lone mosquito that quickly becomes a swarm attracted to the body heat you generate with your frantic swatting. Instead of becoming anxious when problems arise, learn the lesson of Philippians 4:6-7. Let the peace of God protect you by presenting each spiritual nuisance to the Lord in prayer.

Finally, apply a little spiritual insect repellent. Hebrews 13:15 compares our worship with the sacrifices offered in the Old Testament which were described as having a sweet aroma to God (Exodus 29:18) The scent rising from your life as you offer God the sacrifice of praise is sweet to God and repulsive to Satan. The more generous the coating of worship on your life, the less likely the devil’s bugs will find a place to land on you.

The Devil sees your potential in Christ as a serious threat to his plans. He will use anything that he can to diminish your ministry effectiveness. That includes the use of distracting bugs. Don’t allow him to divert your attention from Jesus. The Lord of Glory is more than a match for the “lord of the flies.”