At the start of the popular animated movie The Lion King, the king of the jungle is the powerful lion warrior, Mufasa. He is introduced as a kind yet firm leader of the land who commands respect everywhere he goes, even among his enemies. Mufasa’s son, Simba, is expected to take over his father’s throne someday, but he is just a cub.
At one point, Simba is cornered by his family’s enemies, the hyenas, who lick their chops as they prepare to attack. Simba stands his ground and tries to roar like his father, only to let out a weak squeak, causing the hyenas to laugh.
Simba roars again, this time with an overwhelming, deep-throated, reverberating sound that the hyenas both hear and feel. Their smirks fade into fearful submission, their laughter turns into panicked whimpers, and they run away in terror. Simba smiles in satisfaction but doesn’t realize it’s not his roar that scared them off. His father was standing right behind him, delivering the thunderous sound.
Too often, Christians behave like Simba. They see conflicts end, paths straighten, and problems get solved and take credit for the positive results. Watching an undersized, animated lion cub prance triumphantly away from something he clearly didn’t do is charming, but it’s not cute when a grown Christian acts the same way. The Bible repeatedly reminds believers that their hope is not to be found in their own “roar.”
The king is not saved by his great army; a warrior is not delivered by his great strength. The war horse is a false hope for salvation, and by its great might it cannot rescue. (Ps. 33:16–17)
Every righteous victory originates from God. Christians are commanded to “seek the Lord while He may be found; call upon Him while He is near” (Is. 55:6), yet He graciously loves and protects His people even when they haven’t been as diligent in seeking and calling as they should be. Christians who experience success are often quick to pat themselves on the back when it was God’s gracious decision to grant it. Imagine boasting about earning a thousand dollars that someone just gifted to you. That would be a dishonest claim that also dishonors the one who generously gave it.
On the contrary, Christians must train their minds to turn to God in gratitude before, during, and after hardships. They need to look to God and trust in Him. It’s a pattern that demonstrates dependence and hope—look and trust, look and trust, look and trust.
I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? My help comes from the LORD, who made heaven and earth. He will not let your foot be moved; He who keeps you will not slumber. Behold, He who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. The LORD is your keeper; the LORD is your shade on your right hand. The sun shall not strike you by day, nor the moon by night. The LORD will keep you from all evil; He will keep your life. The LORD will keep your going out and your coming in from this time forth and forevermore. (Ps. 121)
Take a few moments to reflect on the blessings you have experienced. Remember the victories, successes and even the “near misses” that brought sighs of relief. Bring them to God. Thank Him not only for answering your prayers but also for watching over you even when you failed to seek Him first. Establish a pattern of lifting your eyes and trusting the Source of your help. Instead of taking credit for a roar that isn’t yours—look and trust, look and trust, look and trust.
Now I know that the LORD saves His anointed; He will answer him from His holy heaven with the saving might of His right hand. Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God. They collapse and fall, but we rise and stand upright. (Ps. 20:6–8)