Stories From 70 Weeks of Prayer – Wolves

by | Mar 14, 2023 | 70 Weeks Stories, Fiction | 6 comments

The Good Thing About Being Alone in the Woods Surrounded By Wolves

From: 70weeksuvprayr – Kristyn

Subject: Wolves – Week 45

Date: October 2, 2002 

Dear Praying Friends,

I woke up with wolves all around–their beady yellow eyes peering at me from the dark woods. It happens that way sometimes, before I even open my eyes. And what can one do about wolves, but run for safety? So, I run to the mountainous pile of devotion books that so often starts my day.

And what do I find?

“…you feel trapped and hopeless, unable to dream, to experience pleasure, or find contentment…neither big thrills nor little moments have the power to move you…nothing satisfies you because you haven’t a clue what’s wrong or how to fix it.”

The author of Simple Abundance sounds like she’s been reading Ecclesiastes! Not really very encouraging. These words only cause the wolves to howl. I move on.

“Suddenly I am aware of thoughts racing and crashing through my mind at an alarming speed–memories, broken promises, fears about the future, failed expectations of both myself and other people.”

Oh, yeah. Courage to Change is better. The howling has been replaced by a low growl. Savage lips curl up to reveal jagged teeth. Perhaps, George MacDonald has experience with wolves.

I open Diary of an Old Soul and this line stands out:

“Remember, Lord, thou hast not made me good.

Hmmm, an unusual approach. This warning that one such as I may not be good eating could deter any wolves with discerning palates.

Still they crouch, press sharpened nails into the forest floor, prepare to launch their sinewed forms upon the pitiful creature who has foolishly wandered from Home.

Is there no hope?

One last book, God Calling, remains on the pile.

Look unto Me and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth. Isaiah 45:22

Look to no other Source for Salvation. Only look unto Me, and you shall be saved…

Whatever danger threatens look unto Me…

The wolves slink off, receding into the blackened woods. They are not gone. They still watch with hungry eyes. Waiting. Waiting for the next time. There will be a next time—many next times. But, today, their job is done.

The frightened child has run Home to her Father.

***

Wolves have been on my mind lately. It started on Saturday when, preparing for a women’s retreat on The Sacred Romance, I decided to watch Disney’s Beauty and the Beast.

I’d seen the movie before. I remembered the talking tea pot and the bookish Belle and the hideous, enraged Beast eventually transformed by love. But I hadn’t ever paid much attention to the wolves.

There’s a scene where Belle’s father, considered by many to be a “crazy old loon,” is working on an invention for the fair. He hopes to win first prize, but the darn thing will only produce loud noises and smoke. He wants to give up, but Belle assures him he will fix it and take it to the fair where he will become a famous inventor.

With one last effort, he gets the contraption to work and eagerly sets out for the fair.

His perseverance and Belle’s unwavering belief will at last make their dreams come true. They will live in comfort in their nice little home, having finally won the respect of their fellow citizens.

The perfect happy ending, right?

Only something goes wrong on the road to success. A short-cut leads to a darkened path inhabited by—you guessed it—wolves. Papa’s horse bolts and the poor man runs for his life, reaching the safety of a hidden castle just in time.

Things don’t get any better at the castle, however. Belle’s father is imprisoned by the Beast and things go from bad to worse. But fear not. This, being a Disney telling, promises a prince and princess, true love, happily-ever-after ending.

Only, go with me back to the wolves for a minute. It occurs to me the wolves played a necessary role in the story of Belle and her father, not only in the scene I just recounted, but later, when Belle tries to escape the castle, gets chased down by the wolves, and is saved by the Beast.

Yes, saved by the Beast who is injured for Belle’s sake, causing her to look at him in a new light.

And love is born.

And you know the rest.

I’d never considered what this story would be like without the wolves. Have you?

Just a nice tame little tale of a crazy old inventor and his loyal, bookworm daughter.

Of course, the poor Beast would remain a beast and the servants in the castle would live on as tea pots and clocks and feather dusters, but no one would know about that. So, what would they matter?

This contemplation makes me wonder what my story would be like without wolves?

What if I could have happily skipped along the path of the life I’d planned, uninterrupted by sharp-toothed creatures chasing me onto different, more challenging, untamed paths?

Is it possible my wolves have chased me here for a bigger purpose?

Wolves are a part of this broken world. A scary and sometimes dangerous part. I can’t always avoid them. And maybe that’s not even the point.

And what about the wolves in your story? Could it be that it just happens to require a few wolves to send you running headlong into the arms of the One who offers a castle in place of a cottage? One who stretches your mind and heart and transforms you from one who merely reads of adventure and romance into one who loves courageously and lives an adventure with your King?

Don’t get me wrong. I don’t expect I’ll ever be glad to find myself surrounded by wolves. It’s just that I’m coming to believe there’s something I can do about it. I’m coming to believe the trick is, when those wolves show up to send God’s people running, to make sure we go running in the right direction.

INSPIRED BY A TRUE STORY

In late fall of 2001, Rachel Wilson, a ballroom dance teacher living in the small mountain community of Pine Lake, California, discovered her husband, Ben, in an extra-marital affair. Her initial response was much as might be expected—tears, anger, despair, thoughts of revenge and more. But, through a series of unlikely events she was led to an unexpected response – a 70-week journey of prayer with friends.

She wrote an email asking if anyone would commit to praying for her family for 70 weeks, not supposing many would agree to such a long endeavor. To her surprise, more than forty said yes.  

Kristyn is a new friend who joined Rachel’s prayer journey just a few weeks before her own husband, after struggling with alcoholism for years, walked out on her and their four children. As their friendship and faith grew, Rachel asked the group to pray for Kristyn’s family as well as her own and invited Kristyn to add her own stories to the weekly email updates.

6 Comments

  1. Darla

    As always Jody a great story. Your use of words to make the pictures in my mind real is awesome. I have had many encounters with all different kinds of wolves, I have been betrayed by wolves in sheep’s clothing and flat out regular mean predator wolves. I agree with you that my life would have gone in other directions if it hadn’t have been for these different types of wolves, I am not sure I would be the strong-ish person I am today, the person with gray areas no one is allowed in quite yet. I have not slain all my wolves from my past yet, but I am working on it, as for today’s wolves well those I pray about.

    Reply
    • Jody

      I love this response, Darla! Thank you for sharing your thoughts, carrying the metaphor into places I hadn’t even considered. I especially love how, even though scars remain, you just keep on praying.

      Reply
  2. Sheri

    Oh my, tears. This hit just where I needed it this morning. Thank you for reminding and encouraging that God is making me into “one who loves courageously and lives an adventure with your (my) King?” Love you.❤️

    Reply
    • Jody

      I love you, too, Sheri. And I feel honored to get to be a part of your morning story with my little offering of words : )

      Reply
  3. Jeanette Henneberry

    Jody, this is so good! I have read and reread it. I’m a slow processor when it comes to spiritual and emotional growth. I love the analogy. I was thinking of different types of wolves at different seasons of my life. Times I let fears keep me from moving forward. Painful experiences have caused me to freeze up at times. To instinctively protect myself rather than run to the Father. Other times I realized they were toothless and I grew to resist the temptation to cower. I agree, it is all about remembering where our help comes from! I want to live more courageously and adventurously with my King!

    Reply
    • Jody

      Thank you for sharing your insightful thoughts, Jeanette. That slow processing is worth waiting for!

      Reply

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