A few years ago, I went to my parents’ house for a visit, and my father told me to come outside so he could show me something. He walked me over to his hedges and pointed to a huge beehive that had been full of live bees before a city worker sprayed it. Unfortunately, before pest control made it to the house, five of the angry bees stung my dad in the back of the head.

He told me that he didn’t notice the beehive as he was trimming the hedges—not until he disturbed it, which is what sent the bees into attack mode.

“I heard them before I saw them,” Dad told me. Despite running, he was unable to get away from the aggressive swarm. People who learned about the incident were shocked that the attack wasn’t worse. Some called it luck, but my father called it a blessing from God.

I agree with Dad.

As I was reading Judges 14 earlier, it made me think about that beehive in my father’s yard. Here’s why. Samson was threatened by a young lion, but the spirit of the Lord came upon this anointed Israelite leader who was armed with supernatural strength. By the power of God, Samson tore the lion apart with his bare hands. 

Later, Samson passed by the same lion, and he noticed a swarm of bees and some honey inside the dead carcass. Samson stuck his bare hands into the carcass and scooped the honey out without getting stung! The Lord had to be with Samson. Otherwise, he would have been hurt by the lion and the bees. Even Paul in Acts 28:5 experienced God’s power over nature. When a poisonous snake bit Paul on the hand, he was able to shake the snake off and suffer no negative side effects.

Friend, the God we serve has power to neutralize any enemy—natural or supernatural. To neutralize something means to make it ineffective or harmless.

Before I went natural, I used to relax my own hair at home. After the allotted time for the application of the relaxer expired, I would wash my hair with neutralizing shampoo. That stopped the relaxing process and helped me avoid over-processing my hair and damaging it.

In our walk of faith, we each go through a process of being tested and tried, but God won’t let us be over-processed, meaning, He knows when we have had enough. In His sovereignty, He neutralizes any opponent that threatens to damage, destroy, and undermine the good plan of God. However, that doesn’t mean we’ll never be stung, but whatever happens, we can be confident that it will work for our good.  

If you are in a season where God has allowed you to be “stung” by trouble, know this: it won’t destroy you. It doesn’t have permission to do that, so trust God. Know that you will be just fine. God has purpose on your life.

You are anointed. You are chosen. You are beloved. You are special. You are set apart. Favor follows you wherever you go, and so does grace and mercy. The next time you confront an intimidating foe, don’t worry. At the appointed time, God will neutralize the enemy, and you’ll look back and know without a doubt that God intervened.

In the meantime, take comfort in knowing that the same God who delivered Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego out of the fiery furnace, will deliver you from your fiery furnace too. Remember when King Nebuchadnezzar was amazed when God showed up in that fire? He said in Daniel 3:25, “Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God.”

That “fourth man” is in the fire with you!

God’s message to you today is found in Isaiah 43:2, which is what I’m stirring into your cup of inspiration. It says, "When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And through the rivers, they will not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be scorched, Nor will the flame burn you.”

As you drink down the contents of your cup, know that you are not alone. God will not allow you to be overwhelmed. You will not be scorched or burned. You have nothing to fear. Despite the struggle, the battle is already won, because God is fighting it for you. As 2 Chronicles 20:15 says, “For the battle is not yours, but God's.”

Now, let’s pray.

God, thank You for reminding me that despite how intimidating an enemy may appear, it cannot overpower or destroy me because Your hand is upon me. Thank You for giving me supernatural strength, protection, and favor as I go through. Your word tells me that I am already an overcomer through Christ, and I receive it by faith. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

If you desire prayer, please allow me, along with my intercessory prayer team, to stand in faith with you for breakthrough. We would be so honored. We have seen God work over and over again. There is power in agreement. Click here to request prayer now.

As always, thanks for reading and until next time... may today's cup of inspiration uplift, encourage, and empower you!