Squirrels in the Attic

Did you ever get squirrels in your attic?  We do at times and the other night we heard one having a grand old time.  I’ve trapped many, but still there always seems to be that occasional rodent nuisance pestering us late at night when you’re trying to sleep.  It won’t be long and I will “own his furry little neck” though !   I guess we all have our “squirrels in our attics” at times when you think about it.  Sometimes the squirrel takes the form of another person, or a nagging habit, sometimes its adversity, or some fear or worry but to us initially its an irritant.

Its interesting to see how our neighbors react to these “cute little critters” – they feed them and encourage them to hang around the neighborhood, and we ship them out via the squirrel cage, ha !  Its a vicious cycle indeed !!   James says we’re to look at our irritations of life thus:  “My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations” (James 1:2). Thats the old English way of saying decide these irritations to be actually good things. Why? He says because, if we allow them to be, they are actually things which can bring us to spiritual maturity believe it or not ! “Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. . .” (James 1:3).

Looking at even life’s “squirrels” from above the attic, God’s view, we can begin to see that He allows them and knows that no matter what may befall us, can be used of Him to make us more like Him ! At 3 a.m., I’d love to blow a hole through the ceiling and be done with them !  And sometimes that’s how we all feel in the midst of a pesty situation – that I’d just like it to end !!  God has bigger plans and ways of dealing with the situation by dealing with us through the situation.  If you really believe what James writes here it then becomes exciting, that no matter what may come He is at work in YOU !  So what’s going on in your attic lately?  “let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect (mature) and entire lacking nothing” (James 1:4) !!