Die-Hard Pests

April 30, 2009

By William E. Richardson

Small irritations come and go. You can stop pesky flies and persistent mosquitoes with a good swat. Other pests need more than a swat. I recently discovered mole activity in our yard. If mosquitoes are minor, moles are major.

Within a week, a couple of bulging tunnels in the front yard became more bulging tunnels in both front and back yards. Before I could solve the problem, the busy burrowers ruined our grass further with some unsightly mounds of dirt.

Unlike flies and mosquitoes, I couldn’t just swat those mouse-sized diggers. They don’t show up when I’m around. I consulted a friend who’d freed his yard of moles. His best advice: Eliminate their food source so they’ll dig for dinner elsewhere. We took action.

Plenty of minor irritations come buzzing around. Situations that are inconvenient, but not life-changing: a burned out lightbulb, a leaky faucet, a flat tire. Some of life’s bigger issues, on the other hand, can really get under your skin, like moles digging in your yard: money problems, health concerns, fractured relationships, a crisis of faith.

Ignoring those issues, like ignoring moles in your yard, won’t make them go away. Your physical health or eroding friendship or marriage can worsen. You can plunge deeper into debt or doubt. I’ve learned, with my moles and my problems, not to wait to address those matters.

Like mole control, we need to find what nourishes the die-hard issues in our lives. Is overspending fed by a lack of a budget or an attempt to keep up with someone else? What feeds that poor health report? Too much TV time can be a double cause, both restricting exercise and tempting you to keep eating while watching.

I need to stay alert to keep my yard free of underground pests. When I’m not sure what to do, there’s help. The same is true for the die-hard pests that invade our lives.

No matter how powerful any pests in your life are, God can help you overcome them. They may be powerful, they may die hard, but God’s power to exterminate them is stronger. Ask Him to help you rid your pests at the source.

“And what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power” (Ephesians 1:19, NKJV).

— William E. Richardson is senior pastor of Afton (Iowa) Assembly of God.