Lurking Evil

Suddenly, I was kayaking in the midst of a good twenty or thirty fish leaping out of the water all around me. "What is in the water?" I thought, with some fear. I was on Lake Wylie. What could be so large or so frightening that so many fish would be catapulting into the air? I had never seen anything like that on the lake. I quickly paddled away from the strange turmoil.

As I pulled into the dock, a man was reeling his boat onto a trailer. He nodded to me and asked, "Did you see the alligator?"
"Alligator!" I cried, "I didn't know there were any alligators here!"
"It was just reported on the news a couple days ago. I saw it too. About three foot long, near Copperhead Island."
I told him about the fish I had seen a few moments ago and it had crossed my mind that an alligator could be after them.
"Maybe," he agreed, "Could be a gar...a really big gar..."
"Great..." I said.

Just what I need to mar the peacefulness of the new spot to kayak that I recently discovered.

I had had a perfect day the day before with no ripples. It was a sea of tranquility type of day. I haven't had one of those days in a long time, where I felt Satan was completely barricaded from me. I should have known it would just be a respite, an oasis to gather strength to recharge for the relentless struggle ahead. God doesn't seem to grant me long periods of rest. It seemed trials popped out of nowhere yesterday and threatened to pitch me overboard. Meanwhile, a hungry alligator was submerged beneath my kayak.

I am here, God reminded me. There are always dangers around you, but ye of little faith, I've got you in the palm of my hand.  I knew all about the alligator even if you didn't.

As I loaded my kayak back in the van, I thought gratefully again of the gift my dad had given me of this hard shell kayak to replace the inflatable one I used for a few years. An alligator was almost of no consequence as long as I stayed secure in my hard shell kayak.
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John 16:33

I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”

Ephesians 6:10-18 

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness,

1 John 5:18

We know that everyone who has been born of God does not keep on sinning, but he who was born of God protects him, and the evil one does not touch him.