God and the Spider - SoberRecovery : Alcoholism Drug Addiction Help and Information

03-03-2006, 03:44 PM

During World War II, a US marine was separated from his unit on a Pacific island. The fighting had been intense, and in the smoke and the crossfire he had lost touch with his comrades.

Alone in the jungle, he could hear enemy soldiers coming in his direction. Scrambling for cover, he found his way up a high ridge to several small caves in the rock. Quickly he crawled inside one of the caves. Although safe for the moment, he realized that once the enemy soldiers looking for him swept up the ridge, they would quickly search all the caves and he would be killed.

As he waited, he prayed, "Lord, if it be your will, please protect me. Whatever your will though, I love you and trust you. Amen."

After praying, he lay quietly listening to the enemy begin to draw close. He thought, "Well, I guess the Lord isn't going to help me out of this one." Then he saw a spider begin to build a web over the front of his cave.

As he watched, listening to the enemy searching for him all the while, the spider layered strand after strand of web across the opening of the cave.

"Hah, he thought. "What I need is a brick wall and what the Lord has sent me is a spider web. God does have a sense of humor."

As the enemy drew closer he watched from the darkness of his hideout and could see them searching one cave after another. As they came to his, he got ready to make his last stand. To his amazement, however, after glancing in the direction of his cave, they moved on. Suddenly, he realized that with the spider web over the entrance, his cave looked as if no one had entered for quite a while.

"Lord, forgive me," prayed the young man. "I had forgotten that in you a spider's web is stronger than a brick wall."

We all face times of great trouble. When we do, it is so easy to forget what God can work in our lives, sometimes in the most surprising ways. And remember with God, a mere spider's web becomes a brick wall of protection.

Author unknown

**Ann** · 03-03-2006, 04:13 PM

That's a beautiful story, Doug, thank you for reminding me that God's answers are always better than my own, and to trust that.

Hugs,
Ann

**BigSis** · 03-03-2006, 04:37 PM

Even when right, my answers touch only one person, and only for a short time. God fixes things so they last a long time and encompass more people than I even know ... Of all the things I've gotten from Alanon, discovering this has been the best.

Grimnar · 03-05-2006, 02:25 PM

Powerful story and something to keep in mind.

**historyteach** · 03-05-2006, 03:53 PM

I like this story, Doug...
...thanks for sharing it.

L'Chaim!
(To Life!)

BLackshirt · 03-05-2006, 09:31 PM

Thank you Doug, it is always good for me to be reminded what great things God can do with even the smallest things.

Scott

Steve58 · 03-15-2006, 09:13 AM

Thanks, Doug,

I could never have worded it like that, but God has built many spider webs for me!

Steve

03-03-2006, 03:44 PM	#1 (permalink)
Doug Guest Posts: n/a	God and the Spider During World War II, a US marine was separated from his unit on a Pacific island. The fighting had been intense, and in the smoke and the crossfire he had lost touch with his comrades. Alone in the jungle, he could hear enemy soldiers coming in his direction. Scrambling for cover, he found his way up a high ridge to several small caves in the rock. Quickly he crawled inside one of the caves. Although safe for the moment, he realized that once the enemy soldiers looking for him swept up the ridge, they would quickly search all the caves and he would be killed. As he waited, he prayed, "Lord, if it be your will, please protect me. Whatever your will though, I love you and trust you. Amen." After praying, he lay quietly listening to the enemy begin to draw close. He thought, "Well, I guess the Lord isn't going to help me out of this one." Then he saw a spider begin to build a web over the front of his cave. As he watched, listening to the enemy searching for him all the while, the spider layered strand after strand of web across the opening of the cave. "Hah, he thought. "What I need is a brick wall and what the Lord has sent me is a spider web. God does have a sense of humor." As the enemy drew closer he watched from the darkness of his hideout and could see them searching one cave after another. As they came to his, he got ready to make his last stand. To his amazement, however, after glancing in the direction of his cave, they moved on. Suddenly, he realized that with the spider web over the entrance, his cave looked as if no one had entered for quite a while. "Lord, forgive me," prayed the young man. "I had forgotten that in you a spider's web is stronger than a brick wall." We all face times of great trouble. When we do, it is so easy to forget what God can work in our lives, sometimes in the most surprising ways. And remember with God, a mere spider's web becomes a brick wall of protection. Author unknown

03-03-2006, 04:13 PM	#2 (permalink)
Ann Sharing Our Light Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: By The Lake Posts: 15,155	That's a beautiful story, Doug, thank you for reminding me that God's answers are always better than my own, and to trust that. Hugs, Ann __________________ Somewhere between the gator swamp and the Taj Mahal there is a path, it may be hidden, overgrown or may blend in with the other surroundings, but it is there, it's your path and it is calling you.~Frankly~

03-03-2006, 04:37 PM	#3 (permalink)
BigSis On a tear Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Volcano Country! Posts: 3,164	Even when right, my answers touch only one person, and only for a short time. God fixes things so they last a long time and encompass more people than I even know ... Of all the things I've gotten from Alanon, discovering this has been the best. __________________ No matter how spoiled the past may be, our future is spotless.... BigSis

03-05-2006, 02:25 PM	#4 (permalink)
Grimnar I bite. Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: USA Posts: 498	Powerful story and something to keep in mind. __________________ Sometimes, perhaps most of the time, surviving in life is about not doing what we want to do but rather doing what we need to do.

03-05-2006, 03:53 PM	#5 (permalink)
historyteach To Life! Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: centered again Posts: 8,071	I like this story, Doug... ...thanks for sharing it. L'Chaim! (To Life!) __________________

03-05-2006, 09:31 PM	#6 (permalink)
BLackshirt Victory is mine! Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Emporia Kansas Posts: 83	Thank you Doug, it is always good for me to be reminded what great things God can do with even the smallest things. Scott

03-15-2006, 09:13 AM	#7 (permalink)
Steve58 Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Newark,DE Posts: 403	Thanks, Doug, I could never have worded it like that, but God has built many spider webs for me! Steve

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