Nixing the Pests

I was born and raised in Florida (yeah, lucky me!) and as a kid I loved walking barefoot in the hot Florida sand. I remember one time our family went to the beach at dusk. We walked through the warm sand and enjoyed the water for awhile before it was decided that “the boys” would do some night fishing while “the girls” spent the night in the van.

Oh my.

Not only was it stifling hot, but we became targets for the infamous sand fleas. Sand fleas are a small, blood sucking pest the size of a gnat. They are also known as “no-see-ums” because they are practically invisible. You don’t know you are the meal until you feel the bite, over and over. Ouch! I ouched, itched, and scratched all night long.

Just thinking about it now is making me itch!

Did you know there are invisible pests that can affect our sexual health? These pests creep into our bedrooms in the form of thoughts. They especially show up when attempting to deal with sexual dysfunction, addiction, habitual sin, or simply a “failure to thrive” sexually.

Today I’m going to talk about one in particular that is downright deadly. He’s deadly because not only is he frequently unrecognizable ( a “no-see-um”), but he is able to suck the life blood right out of us. This guy is more than a pest: he is a common and very effective killer.

He is the sense of helplessness. His bite sucks the life out with these thoughts:

“There’s no hope for me/us.”

“I can’t change” or “He won’t change.”

“This problem or situation is too big.”

“There’s no point in trying.”

“I just don’t have what it takes. I’m not strong enough.”

“Things will always be like this.”

“I’m doomed to be like this.”

“It’s too hard.”

For a long time I served as a host to the pest of helplessness in relation to past ruins because I believed his presence was legitimate and his bite was true. Then I began to realize one simple thing: The message of this pest is completely unbiblical!!! Plus, it is self centered and focused on “me.” The central message of the pest is “Who do you think you are?” when God’s word says “Look at who I AM.”

Nehemiah was one charged with rebuilding the ruins of Jerusalem and he had an pesty enemy, Sanballet. Perhaps he could appropriately be called Sanballet the Sand Flea. Sanballet’s chief tool was discouragement and ridicule. He was constantly telling Nehemiah, “You are too feeble to do this! The work is too hard and extensive! Who do you think you are, anyway? You are just kidding yourselves!”

Sound familiar?

Listening to this kind of demoralizing message robs us of strength and renders us unable to act. It also produces fear. Yet Nehemiah’s example teaches us how to combat the Sanballets by keeping our focus on the “great and awesome” Lord who is also “favorable towards us.”

One of the best things we can do for our sex lives is to identify the pesty, deadly thoughts and then go about nixing them. Just as Nehemiah rebuilt the wall by carrying his tool in one hand and his sword in the other, so we too must keep the truth of the Sword with us as we go about our work. By doing this, Nehemiah and his coworkers were able to finish the work of rebuilding in a mere 52 days!

That’s the power of the truth.

I encourage you to find scriptures that counteract your particular pest. If you struggle with a sense of helplessness, here are some truths to get you started in the nixing process.

“I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.” Isaiah 41:10

“The things that are impossible with people are possible with God.” Luke 18:27

“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” Philippians 4:13

“The Lord God will not fail you nor forsake you.” Deut 30:8

“Commit your way to the Lord; Trust also in Him and HE will do it.” Psalms 37:5

Watch out sand fleas! Here we come!