When I was 13 years young, I had the crazy experience of a Copperhead snake biting the tar out of me! It was a humid summer evening, and my sister and I were excited to watch a meteor shower under a starry Texas sky. I was walking toward our backyard in the pitch dark with my arms full of pillows and blankets…completely barefoot, and BAM!!! I felt an excruciating pain in my right foot and quickly my whole leg was on fire! I instinctively kicked as hard as my little leg could kick, and then I saw it…my adversary was a two foot long snake coiled up with its mouth wide open, ready to strike again! I screamed and my Daddy came running. He killed it with one blow of his shovel. He put it in a bag, grabbed me, my sister and my mom and put the pedal to the metal all the way to the hospital…90 to nothing…as you can imagine. My poor Mother was scared to death! I remember her praying and crying the whole 22 miles to the hospital. After the doctors confirmed that it was indeed a poisonous copperhead, the medical team decided (for many reasons) not to give me the anti-venom. After a long night in the hospital with half of my body covered in ice, the doctors were amazed at my condition, and they released me. Obviously, I lived to tell the tale! It took a long time for the nerve damage in my foot to heal, and I had to use crutches for a few weeks, but you’ll never guess how my encounter changed me?!

Believe it or not…I lost my fear of snakes! And now as an adult, the lessons from my childhood snakebite still speak to me today! There are 3 reasons I am thankful a Copperhead bit me:

1) I learned to be alert! Copperheads strike almost immediately if they feel threatened. Satan is a lot like a low down snake, AND/OR a roaring lion. “Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” (1 Peter 5:8). Make no mistake, if we belong to Jesus and are making a positive impact for God’s kingdom, we are a threat to the enemy! We have to wise up! On the night that snake bit me, if I had been prepared (wearing shoes and using a flashlight) that mean ol’ snake would not have gotten me. The best way to be alert and ready for the schemes of the enemy is to know God and His word. If we spend time with Him in prayer, in worship and in His word, we will be able to walk out into the world clothed in the armor of God, and His truth will light our way!

“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.” Ephesians 6:10-11

2) I learned that the enemy may TEMPORARILY get us down, but we WILL RISE UP again, AND when we DO we will actually be BETTER! God will teach us the most during these painful times! At 13, I remember realizing (for the first time) how blessed I was to be able to walk, run, and play. While I was still healing, God developed a much more grateful heart in me. To this day, I have empathy and compassion for people who are hurting or disabled. It has literally fueled my desire for ministry, missions and outreach. I love what Joseph (from the Bible) said to his brothers after they sold him into slavery and tried to ruin him: “You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.” (Genesis 50:20). Yes!! See, the reason that I am not afraid of snakes anymore is not because venom doesn’t hurt. No, it is because ultimately God’s victory overcomes! “We are more than conquerors through Him who loved us! Nothing can separate us from the Love of Christ!” (Romans 8:37,39). And after all, my Daddy did kill that sucker!! Through it all, The Lord accomplishes a lot in us. No snake in the grass or devil in hell can ever come close to what God will do for us!

“But you belong to God, my dear children. You have already won a victory over them because the Spirit who lives in you is greater than the spirit who lives in the world.” 1 John 4:4

3) I learned that just because that snake hurt me does not mean I have to live in fear! I will still enjoy exploring the great outdoors and camping out under the stars! The enemy may strike us, but we must refuse to let it keep us from living life to the fullest. If the enemy has discouraged you through someone’s hateful words or actions (for example) he would love for you to never trust again…never love again. But God is SO MUCH GREATER!
God can heal our wounds and eventually our trials end up making us stronger and tougher than we ever thought possible. If we choose to trust God, our tangles with the enemy will actually help us to replace fear with faith.

See, that snake tried to kill me, but God saved my life!

I have much more faith in God’s sovereignty and power than the enemy’s schemes! “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I (Jesus) have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” John 10:10

So if a Copperhead bites the fire out of you (or the enemy strikes) you can…
1) Become Alert!
2) Become Better! AND
3) Become Mighty in Your Faith!

God is faithful and He will Overcome!

I hope this encouraged you today! If you enjoyed it and feel that it may help someone else, please share! God bless you!