Proverbs 30:28 – The spider skillfully grasps with its hands, and it is in kings' palaces. (NKJV)

Spider webs festoon the front of my house, draping themselves over the porch railing, making airy paths between the house and the porch roof, even arching across from the porch to the patio furniture. No, it's not a haunted house — it's just the reality that I have to deal with at my summer home. I try my best to sweep the webs away, but those little guys make new ones almost as fast as I get rid of them.

James 1:2-4 – Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. (NIV)

Spiders persevere. They face breakages and setbacks, and patiently build one web after another until they reach their goal. No matter how often I sweep away their webs, they quickly build them back. Similarly, I can persevere in my "trials of many kinds", knowing that they build my faith and help me to become "mature and complete". Instead of griping about those webs, they can remind me each morning to keep trusting in God for strength for the day, regardless of the trials that I may face.

Mark 14:38 – Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak. (ESV)

Spider silk is stronger than steel and can be stretched quite a bit before it snaps. Their webs serve as both offense, in catching prey, and also defense, in alerting them to predators through vibrations in the strands. The webs are constructed in such a way that failure or brokenness in one area won't cause the entire web to fail.

Just as the spider builds its webs for both offense and defense, so I need to build my life, through Bible study, prayer, and worship with other Christians, in order to be prepared for any life situation that I might encounter. Satan loves to attack the unprepared. I need to be sure that my "silk" is strong — that each day I have donned the armour of God (Ephesians 6:10-18). I want my life to be constructed in such a way that a failure or brokenness in one area won't cause my whole life to come crashing down.

Lamentations 3:22-23 – The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. (ESV)

We can be thankful that the Lord persists in loving us and that, like the spider webs, His mercies are new every morning. We can be assured that we can depend on Him for the best offense and defense in any situation, as we put on His holy armour and trust in Him. If we persevere to the end, we will be in the King's palace!

Prayer: Father, thank You that You have provided lessons for us through Your creation. Help us to look to You each day for reminders of Your faithfulness and support as we persevere in our daily lives. Amen.

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About the author:

Sharon Cook <craftercook@gmail.com>
Apache Junction, Arizona, USA
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