Women’s Ministry Minute
June 16, 2020
With Monica Merkle
One of my favorite sayings dad says when things are going south on the farm is:
“Better start praying, Satan is loose.”
It’s something that brings a smile to my face mostly cause that’s how work is with my dad.
Lots and lots of prayer.
Spring 2020 has been a rough one for Merkle Farms, and constant prayer is one of the ways Dadio and I get through the daily trials
Some days it’s machinery calling it quits, or tools break, we hurt ourselves, or worse a pig dies .
Moments when I don’t pray and doubt God are some of the worst moments in the farm. Feeling even more isolated and cut off from everything, or powerless against the trials that besiege me. In these moments I get bitter, I feel tense, and work only gets harder.
“Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings. And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen.”
1 Peter 5:6-11 NIV
Satan wants us to turn away from God, and rely on our own strength. Satan knows when we do this, we WILL fail no matter what. We might sustain briefly, but Satan knows all of our triggers, weaknesses, and sins. Like the lion he is, he knows exactly when to strike.
I find that impatience, anger, and frustration are things that plague me the most these days in quarantine. As a new young professional I have a big struggle with wanting to get everything right the first time, and making my father proud to give more responsibilities on the farm. I get so anxious that I might make mistakes that I mess up anyway. Then I just get angry at myself for being anxious. Then more work piles up. Causing Dad and I to get behind. Maybe I am having trouble with machinery that I’m unfamiliar with. Dad and I had a miscommunication and I don’t follow directions. I miss the mark, and I fall apart. When the work day is over I am often still one degree below boiling over. Simple questions or prying from my family set me off and loose my sunny demeanor.
“All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and sea creatures are being tamed and have been tamed by mankind, but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be.”
James 3:7-10 NIV
Watching those behaviors and patterns unfold in my life bring me back to the saying “Satan is loose, better start praying.” Because how else am I to protect myself from Satan and my own sinful nature. I also need to protect my loved ones from fits of rage as well. They don’t deserve to feel that way.
In the 1st Peter verse we know that casting our anxieties and struggles will help us through trials. Keeps us sober of mind to be watchful for Satan before he is able to strike.
This is why prayer has been so important throughout my day. Prayer has helped me move fight back satan as he picks on me and it helped me protect my loved ones.
To my Sisters,
When you feel frustrated, angry or impatient:
Take a deep breath and say it quick prayer.