Meandering - Wolves and the Shepherd

“Her officials within her are roaring lions; her judges are evening wolves that leave nothing till the morning.”  Zephaniah 3:3

At the close of the day, you endeavour to settle your mind. You reflect on the day’s happenings, what was accomplished, what did not come together, and how it will all impact the next day.  As much as you try to focus on the good and positive, it’s the dark, negative fears and doubts that taunt and tear at you. The derisive growls of accusing, condemning, discouraging thoughts that fill you with fright and chase sleep away. 

Wolves rarely attack in the daylight. It’s under the cover of darkness, when the shepherd is less visible, that the weary and anxious sheep are most vulnerable. 

Like a roaring lion, a ravenous wolf, the Evil One, the great enemy of our souls, looks to attack when we are most vulnerable - usually at the end of a long day, as well. Along with his pack of demonic cohorts he surrounds you and seeks to devour you with tormenting notions of meaninglessness, abandonment, and failure. 

The rescue and remedy is in acknowledging it for what it is. At the close of the day, as the sun goes down, we are mentally fatigued and more susceptible to the fits, fears, and attacks of the ‘evening wolves’. Resist the tendency, though their growls and howls be fierce, to drive yourself to despair; instead, by faith, recall to mind that the Good Shepherd has never forsaken you. He is ever watching over you, in absolute control, working all things together for good. What you need most is rest. Draw close to Jesus and let him give you, his beloved, restorative rest for your weary soul. 

It never ceases to amaze me how much better I can face the foreboding issues of the evening before, in the bright light of a new day. The best thing I can do when the evening wolves come out, is to simply draw close to my Shepherd, curl up at his feet, and sleep. It will all look different in the morning, where, in the vibrant daylight of my renewed faith, wolves fear to attack. 

“In peace I will both lie down and sleep; for you alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety.” Psalm 4:8 

Thanks for meandering along with me,
Pastor Daniel