What would you do if you were enjoying an outing in the woods and a bear attacked your 8-year-old son? That’s a no-brainer –you would go after that bear without a moment’s hesitation, with your bare hands if need be, to protect the one you love so dearly.

John Pala, a 43-year-old salesman from Florida could tell you what that is like.  He and his sons were vacationing in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park when a black bear pounced on his youngest son and began to maul his head. Without hesitation, Mr. Pala who did not have a weapon, nor any backwoods experience, grabbed the bear’s face and pried his mouth open, allowing his son to escape. However, Evan slipped and fell while running away; this allowed the bear to pounce him again.  Mr. Pala then tackled the bear a second time, pulling him off the boy.  All three were then able to run to safety.

Do you ever feel that you are lying helpless beneath the weight of a  vicious “bear?”  Like that aggressive beast, problems sometimes jump on us unexpectedly  –problems which we are no match for– leading us to believe that we will be devoured.  Rest assured, my friend, that at times like those, our Heavenly Father will be right on top of that “bear” forcing it to release its grip on you.

Young Evan left that encounter with some minor injuries, but his life was spared.  We are not guaranteed that some of our “bears” won’t leave us broken or bleeding, but if we call upon the LORD, He will rescue us. And, He will satisfy us with long life showing us His salvation.  In other words, not only will He rescue us, He will heal our wounds.

My friends, you don’t ever have to live your life in fear because  the LORD’s got your back!

“Because he holds fast to me in love, I will deliver him; I will protect him, because he knows my name. When he calls to me, I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will rescue him and honor him. With long life I will satisfy him and show him my salvation.” —Psalm 91:14-16

[You may read Evan’s story at USA Today online 8/12/2008]