The Gnat's Night Tour

Last night while I was trying to fall asleep, there was an obnoxious little gnat buzzing around my room. I’m guessing you know the kind of high-pitched, tireless whine I’m talking about- unfortunately. The longer I tried to ignore it, the more intense and pulsating it became in my ears. How can such a tiny bug be so loud?  I knew I wouldn’t be able to find it even if I turned the lights on.

The whining droned away. 

I finally got up, grabbed my fan out of my closet, and started it. Its noise easily drowned out the gnat, probably even whooshing it right out of the room- and I was able to fall 

asleep.

There's a parallel here. And bear with me, because it's one I thought up late last night after the whole gnat incident, but I think it works pretty well.

The gnat represents satan (which isn’t too hard to imagine if you’ve ever had one taking a night tour of your house). Just like the gnat, he has a lot to say. He’s always throwing lies and insecurities and chaos at us. . . and for many, I know the battle can take on a whole new ferocity as we lay awake at night. When we simply try to ignore it, the lies get more deafening and harder to bear. And even if we did get up to fight, could we fend off the constant assault and repair all the rooted damage ourselves?

No, we’ve tried that far too many times. We simply can't do it. The lies must be drowned out with something louder and more authoritative: God's word and truth. This is the only hope we have of victory. Reading the Bible regularly, memorizing a few verses, and talking to wise friends often will equip us to drown out the lies when they come. And in the end, we'll be able to see reality with clear eyes: that satan and his lies are nothing but a gnat and its whining. 
​
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}
 
Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. {Ephesians 6:11}
 
Send me your light and your faithful care,
    let them lead me;
let them bring me to your holy mountain,
    to the place where you dwell.
 Then I will go to the altar of God,
    to God, my joy and my delight.
I will praise you with the lyre,
    O God, my God.
{Psalm 43:3-4}