Buzzards are the bane of my existence. They have come to symbolize one thing: death.

I was running errands yesterday when I got a call from our wonderful neighbor/family (we’re all family around here, and I don’t mean that figuratively) letting me know that buzzards were surrounding one of our cows and her newborn calf. Thankfully my husband was home and able to go to the rescue.

While I appreciate their role in our ecosystem, I despise the buzzard’s quest for the weak and vulnerable. They circle the sky, scouring the ground for an easy target. They’ll stalk and then they’ll come together to strike.

It reminds of 1 Peter 5:8:

Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.

The enemy is scouring the grounds looking for the vulnerable, and he won’t waste a second to strike when he finds it. He is strong and determined. When you’re in the midst of rejection, he’ll tell you you’re not good enough. When you don’t like what you see in the mirror, he’ll show you all your “flaws”. When you’re deep in sin, he’ll tell you no one can save you. He’ll surround you and peck at you with lies because you are threat to him and his plan to destroy God’s creation.

We are not strong enough to fight him alone. The good news is that we have a Defender who has grounded us in truth and is only a prayer away when we find ourselves in our weakness. He has given us Himself, His Word, His angels, and good neighbors to fight for us and with us.

Songs for times such as these:

• “Surrounded (Fight My Battles)” by UPPERROM & Elyssa Smith
• “Need You Now (How Many Times)” by Plumb
• “My God Can” by Katy Nichols & Naomi Raine

Scripture for times such as these:

• 1 Peter 5:8
• Proverbs 28:15
• James 4:7