“Another time [Benaiah] chased a lion down into a pit.  Then, despite the snow and slippery ground, he caught the lion and killed it.”  2 Samuel 23

In scripture, we read of a valiant warrior turning the tables and chasing a lion into a pit, and, then killing the large feline.  Picture it in  your mind…maybe lace it with the cinema scope of a motion picture.  Benaiah notices the impression of lion prints in the snow.  The cold bites his lungs as air fills his chest with anticipation.  His muscles tighten and his eyes narrow as he spots the lion.  The lion growls and groans.  The lion’s ears are back and hair on its neck is twitching.

At this point, some folks would think this is a very bad thing.  Then there are others who would see the lion and think- “What an opportunity.  It’s snowing. I could use a lion skin coat.”

God is in the business of strategically positioning us in the right place at the right time.  His timing is perfect.  He opens the door for leadership opportunities.  He gives us lions to chase.  Will it be easy?  No.  The path may be covered with freezing snow.  Then our goal, the hunted prey, falls into a pit.  And as God’s will would have it…the ground vanishes from under our feet and we find ourselves falling into the same pit along with the lion.

Moment of truth.  Do you let the dark of the pit paralyze you?  Do you turn your back and attempt to dig your fingers into the frozen earth in an attempt to climb out of the pit?  Or do you search for your spear, lean forward, and search for your prey?  How do you respond when the crushing weight of the lion presses against you to tear you apart?

Brace yourself.  You chose this opportunity by chasing it into a pit.  What God gives us the courage to chase a lion into a pit on a snowy day?

One of my first mentors wisely reminded me that God has Plan A set for you and me…not Plan B.  Seize Plan A.  Crawl out of the pit, bloodied, and victorious.

Mark Batterson wrote-“When we don’t have the guts to step out in faith and chase lions, then God is robbed of the glory that rightfully belongs to Him.”

Spiritual maturity and leadership is seeing and seizing God-ordained opportunities.