You see, ever since I was a young girl, I've been highly allergic to nuts, so I avoid eating them. Otherwise, I begin sneezing uncontrollably, my eyes swell shut, my throat closes, and I break out in hives. Well, yesterday evening, I was enjoying some sunflower seeds and talking to my husband Kenya. Then, seemingly out of the blue, I felt my throat closing. My eyes began tearing up and itching, and the horrible sneezing began.
Uh oh, I thought.
I know this feeling all too well and it only happens when I consume nuts... but I hadn't had any. So, why in the world was my body reacting this way? I was trying to figure out if some nuts had accidentally gotten mixed in with my sunflower seeds...
After taking my allergy medicine, the symptoms began somewhat tapering off about an hour later, although I was still pretty swollen, congested, and in bad shape.
So, Kenya and I tried to retrace my steps and see where I might have gotten a hold to some nuts. We were determined to identify the culprit and find out exactly what had triggered this whole thing.
Suddenly, the light bulb came on and my husband had an aha moment! Turns out that, Kenya had been eating cashews last night without my knowledge and he kissed me. Apparently, the residue left on his lips from the nuts he was eating, was unknowingly transferred to me. Consequently, my allergies flared up something awful.
I felt so miserable.
Thankfully, I got through it and although I'm a bit swollen and mildly itchy (It takes a little while to go all the way back to normal), I'm doing better today. Of course, I have emerged from this unpleasant experience with a lesson to share, which is this.
In life, we all have triggers that set off certain chain reactions in us. Even in our best attempts to avoid them, there are times when we'll be unavoidably confronted with them. For example, there may be painful memories that send us on crying spells; temptations that leave us weak and disarmed; outside stimuli that stir up feelings of anger and frustration; or even outward verbal attacks and mean-spirited insults that keep us struggling with low self-esteem.
Whatever the trigger, you have to know what to do in those times when you're faced with that thing that challenges you more greatly than anything else. Whether we admit it or not, we all have something that triggers us.
In my case, I keep allergy medicine on hand just in case I have one of those moments like I had last night. When my allergies are going haywire, I've learned from my doctors that the allergy medicine has the power to combat the negative symptoms in my body. So, I take the medicine and wait for the itchiness and other unpleasant manifestations to pass.
Similarly, when you're faced with life's issues, particularly those things you feel defenseless against, you've got to know what to do when the enemy attacks you. You have to fight the attack. Instead of sitting there and letting him pounce on you, pray and take the necessary steps to combat what has the potential to take you under.
Certainly, you must be wise enough to avoid what weakens you; but, as I stated earlier, there will be times when, despite your best efforts, you'll come face to face with the thing, person, or situation that has the potential to set you off in some way, shape, or form.
So again, be wise and know that, spiritually speaking, your protection and defense is in the Lord. The Bible says, "He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under
the shadow of the Almighty" (Psalm 91:1 KJV). No matter what comes against you, God is your shield and your defense.
I'm reminded of what Isaiah 59:19 says: "When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord shall
lift up a standard against him."
Today, I encourage you to do whatever you have to do in order to fight back once your trigger has been activated. Don't you dare allow the enemy to reduce you to shambles. Lift up your head and know that you've got a spiritual defense to combat whatever the enemy tries to do. Don't just sit there and let him wallop you.
Fight the attack.
Fight with the word.
Fight with prayer.
Fight with worship.
Fight with love.
Fight with forgiveness.
Fight with praise.
And always know this. "No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper..." (Isaiah 54:17).
As always, thanks for reading and until next time... may you be empowered to prosper!
Dianna Hobbs
