How I Went from Fleeing Snakes to Giving Thanks

I woke up with my pillow drenched in sweat and my pulse racing. I sprung from my bed in a fright! Were those two mammoth snakes really chasing me, or was it all a crazy dream? It took me a moment to regain my bearings and be able to think clearly.

Whew, what a nightmare! I kept running and running, and everywhere I turned, the two monster-serpents continued their pursuit of me. Panting desperately, I turned the corner just in time to see my husband capture the snakes into a large cooking pot and begin literally cooking the life out of them (crazy, huh?). He was reassuring me that he had everything under control and that I had nothing to worry about.

He then lifted the lid to comfort me that the snakes had indeed been destroyed, but only one of the snakes was there. Somehow, the other one had escaped. In a panic, I fled the scene, and the chase was on again!

That is when I woke up.

I needed to pull myself together for my first day on a new job later that morning, but I could not seem to shake the fear and dread that had consumed me from my nightmare. I had a sense that my dream had more significance than merely pictures in my head as I slept. I just knew there was more to it!

I did some research on dreams and of the symbol of snakes in a dream. Very interesting, indeed! I found several possible interpretations, but the two that seemed relevant to my situation were of fear and threats. The snakes could have been a foreboding to me of a hidden threat or of the need to take my fears to the Lord in exchange for His peace.

By the end of the day, I would have a fairly clear idea of what those slithery reptiles signified to me.

As I was preparing for the first day of teacher orientation that morning for a position as a Bible and history teacher for junior high students, I received a call from the school. I had already accepted their offer and was on my way to sign the papers before orientation was to begin. The principal informed me that the school board decided that they needed someone who could also coach basketball, and they recanted their offer. Just like that, I was out of a job!

Minutes later, before I had time to fall apart from the first phone call, my landlord called. My husband and I had recently moved into this city and had leased a condo while we were looking for a house to buy. He apologized that he had sold the condo out from under us, and we had thirty days to find another place to live.

Great! Now I’m jobless and homeless in the same day! Suddenly that snake dream made sense!

I fell on my knees and began sobbing like a baby before God. I wanted to throw a royal temper tantrum, as had been my habit in the past. I can’t tell you how many times throughout my life that I had whined and fussed at God when things didn’t turn out the way I had hoped. I would give in to the grumpies and make everyone else suffer along with me. I looked back and saw the old ugly pattern, and I could not see how repeating that past behavior was going to help my situation now.

But, I loved teaching, and I wanted that job! Nothing was more fulfilling to me! Looking for a new place to live right now would be so inconvenient too. My life had been going in the perfect direction, and now everything was in chaos. Didn’t I have the right to give in to a good tantrum right about now?

I finally just stopped my crying and said, “OK, Sharon, you’ve had your cry. It’s time to dry it up!” I began telling God that I didn’t want to be that immature and whiny girl any longer who fell apart every time things didn’t go my way. Sure, a good cry is healthy and understandable here, but enough was enough

I saw two choices before me. I could give in to fear and throw yet again another pity party. Well, as many times as I had done that, it had never worked for me in the past. It was time to try something else. My second choice was to trust that God had everything under control and was working for my good and for His glory. I could choose to see my situation through a different set of lenses and choose to cooperate with God’s plan. I made a vow then and there that no matter what happens, I would make the choice to trust Him and give Him thanks and praise with all my heart.

I had never made that kind of commitment before, and I didn’t know if I could do it.

God took me down memory lane for a moment. I noticed a pattern of numerous setbacks and heartbreaks interrupting my life and throwing a wrench into my comfortable plans. I had trekked many dark and rocky valleys in my lifetime, and in every single situation, God had sustained me, comforted me, taught me, helped me, and loved me through it all. He had never abandoned me! I could see quite clearly that He had also used every situation for some kind of good in my life. While I was busy being upset, I didn’t realize that God was maturing me, developing character in me, and making me stronger through it all. He had used my pain to give me compassion for others and a platform to minister to women in particular. He had been fine tuning my heart to be prepared for being a pastor’s wife and a women’s ministry leader someday.

I began voicing praise and thanks which turned into rejoicing and singing before the Lord. If my younger self could have seen me now, I would have thought I was nuts! However, I began feeling such joy welling up inside. The Holy Spirit gave me a deep sense of peace that everything would work out just fine.

Little did I know, however, that my testing was not over!

My husband came home from the doctor soon afterward with some chilling news. He had a diagnosis that took me by storm! All of the fear and dread instantly swept back over me like a flood, and I had to start all over again with the process of laying it all before God and trusting Him with it. As I shared the day’s events with my husband, we simply prayed and made the decision that we were going to put our hope and faith in God and choose to give Him praise and thanks no matter what.

As the weeks progressed, that was not an easy commitment to keep. The stress of looking for a house, packing, cleaning, job hunting, and learning new health habits for my husband’s illness, we caught ourselves often giving in to complaining, arguing, questioning God, and pouting. Yes, we were still human and had real emotions!

However, I can’t tell you how many times I would step back and see myself as a spoiled toddler  throwing a fit every time she didn’t get her way. NO WAY was I going to be that person any longer! Only by the help of the Holy Spirit was I able to overcome my negative attitude. I remembered my decision to give thanks and praise instead, and that is what I would do.

Within the month, we were offered a huge and beautiful house to take care of by someone who was indefinitely living out of state. We could live there while we were looking for a house to buy. My husband was also able to get his health issue under control. Perhaps that represented the snake that he had caught in the pot from my dream? It’s possible!

The only thing that did not work out was my job. I did several more interviews and was turned down every time. Oh well, two out of three ain’t bad!

What I didn’t know was that God had other opportunities for me that would not be possible with my working full time. That rejection was actually a blessing in disguise that was paving the way for something even better. My heart’s desire had been for full time ministry, and God began opening up the doors in a magnificent way!

So, you see, no matter what your situation looks like at the moment, remember that God has not forgotten about you. He has a reason for allowing what He does, and He has promised to use it all for your good. Ultimately, He uses what we go through to perfect and refine us for His glory. He prepares us for what is next on our journey of life. We don’t see the whole picture, but He does.

Instead of fretting and allowing the grumpies to take over, start voicing praise and thanks to God instead. Trust Him to work everything out exactly as it should be. Have faith that He will finish the good work He has begun in you. Remember that this life is but a vapor, and it is not all about us. We are here to be vessels that Christ can live in and work through so that He may be glorified. Keep your eyes on Him instead of self, and choose to give Him the praise and thanks He so deserves no matter what may come your way.

My friend, I encourage you to find your strength and joy in the Lord. Let go of your fears and frustrations and choose to trust God instead. Even when it is not easy, start giving Him thanks and speaking praises to Him. Watch how your situation will change!

I will praise you, Lord, with all my heart;
    I will tell of all the marvelous things you have done.
I will be filled with joy because of you.
    I will sing praises to your name, O Most High. Psalm 9:1-2

May God bless you!