Your Struggle Is Your Proving Ground: Why God Puts Lions in Your Path

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Have you ever felt trapped in an impossible situation with no way out? That's exactly where we find Benaiah in one of Scripture's most overlooked stories – facing a lion in a pit on a snowy day. The symbolism couldn't be clearer: a predator stronger than us, nowhere to run, and treacherous conditions making every move dangerous.

This powerful biblical account perfectly mirrors those major life transitions many of us face: divorce, retirement, job loss, or the empty nest syndrome. These moments feel exactly like being trapped with a lion – frightening, overwhelming, and seemingly impossible to overcome. But Benaiah teaches us something profound – he wasn't pushed into that pit; he chose to enter it. Sometimes our breakthrough doesn't come from running away but from stepping directly into our challenges with courage and faith.

What's fascinating about Benaiah's story is that this terrifying encounter became his proving ground. That lion battle led to his promotion under King David and eventually to leadership of Israel's entire army under Solomon. Similarly, your current struggle isn't punishment; it's preparation. Those moments where we feel most outmatched and unprepared often shape us most profoundly for our next season. Your "lion" – whatever form it takes – represents the fear that wants to keep you paralyzed. But remember, courage isn't the absence of fear; it's moving forward despite it.

Ready to face your own lions? My upcoming book "Start Your Comeback" offers practical strategies for navigating life's most challenging transitions with courage and hope. Sign up at ToniThrash.com for updates on the launch. Remember, your comeback isn't built on easy victories but forged in those messy, slippery battles where you choose faith over fear. Your pit can become your launching pad. Don't run – step in and watch what God does!

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Is there a major life transition benching you?
I know you may be asking what'snext?
What's my purpose?
What if?
Because I've asked those too.
Welcome to the Start yourComeback Podcast.
I'm Toni Thrash, a certifiedlife coach, and I want to share
the tools and practical steps tohelp you create a winning game

(00:23):
plan to move into your newadventure.
Hi, welcome back.

(00:57):
You're listening to episode 103.
I'm Toni Thrash, your chiefcomeback starter, and today
we're talking about one of themost overlooked but powerful
stories in scripture Benaniah,who killed a lion in a pit on a
snowy day.
Now I know what you're thinking, toni I'm not planning on

(01:20):
hunting lions today.
Well, that's fair, but I betyou're facing something in your
life right now that feels justas terrifying, just as slippery
and just as impossible, andthat's why Ben and I's story
matters for you and me.
Let me paint this picture foryou.
The Bible doesn't waste words,so when we're told the details,

(01:44):
they matter.
There's a lion which is apredator stronger and faster
than me for sure.
There's a pit with no way outand nowhere to run, and on top
of that, it's a snowy day, likethe worst conditions possible.

(02:05):
So, if we're honest, this ishow life often feels in
transition Divorce, retirement,job loss, empty nest.
Suddenly, you're face to facewith something you never asked
for, trapped in a pit with it,and everything feels cold, dark
and slippery.
Sound familiar.

(02:27):
So let me ask this question whydo you think Benaniah went in?
He wasn't pushed, he didn'tstumble in and fall.
He chose to face the lion.
That's courage, that's resolveand that's faith.
Some of us spend so much timeavoiding pits that we never

(02:49):
discover the strength God hasplanted in us.
Sometimes the breakthroughdoesn't come from running away.
It comes from stepping in.
What's that pit in your liferight now that you're avoiding?
The phone call you don't wantto make?
Maybe that counselingappointment you've been putting

(03:10):
off?
Or is it the financial realityyou've been dodging?
Just maybe God is calling younot to run but to walk into it
and trust him with the light.
Ben and I didn't just kill thelion for bragging rights.
That battle became the reasonKing David later promoted him

(03:32):
and Solomon, david's son,trusted him to lead Israel's
entire army.
That snowy pit was his provingground.
The same is true for us.
The hardest fights, the oneswhere we feel unprepared,

(03:53):
outmatched and stuck, are oftenthe very things that shape us
for our next season.
I'll be honest with you, someof my own pits felt like the end
Divorce, financial strain,loneliness.
They looked like lions too bigto defeat.
But looking back, I see thosebattles were preparing me to

(04:16):
lead, to coach and to speak toyou today with authenticity.
See, your pit is a preparation,not punishment, and sometimes we
just have to face the fear headon, which, as you know I've
shared many times, is a strugglefor me.
But you see, that lionrepresents fear.

(04:37):
Scripture even calls the enemya roaring lion seeking to devour
us.
Fear wants to corner you, keepyou paralyzed and make you
believe you can't win.
But Benaniah's story teaches ussomething critical Fear is not
conquered by running away.
Fear is conquered when you faceit in faith.

(05:02):
The snowy, slippery pit is whereGod shows his strength through
your courage.
Now listen, courage doesn'tmean you're not scared.
Courage means you show upscared, step into the pit anyway
and let God meet you there.
What does this mean for you?
Well, it means that if you'rewalking through divorce,

(05:25):
retirement, job loss, theloneliness of an empty nest
here's what I want you to hear.
Your pit is not the end of you.
It may be the very place yourcomeback begins, and I know this
for a fact.
Your lion, whatever it is, isnot bigger than your God.

(05:46):
Lions roar loudly, but Godequips you to stand firm.
Roar loudly, but God equips youto stand firm.
Your snowy day doesn't mean youwait for better conditions.
Courage steps in when it'sleast convenient.
Your comeback will not be builton easy victories.
It will be forged in the hard,messy, slippery battles where

(06:10):
you choose faith over fear.
Friend, you may feel likeyou're in a pit with a lion
right now.
You may feel outmatched,outnumbered and out of options.
But remember Benaniah.
He walked into the pit on theworst day possible and came out
with victory.
That's the kind of faith andcourage available for you too.

(06:34):
Your snowy pit can be thelaunching pad of your comeback.
Don't run.
Step in and just watch what Goddoes.
If this episode spoke to youtoday, I want to remind you that
my book Start your Comeback iscoming soon.
It's filled with stories andstrategies just like this one to

(06:58):
help you move from the benchback into your life with courage
and hope.
Head to TonyThrashcom and signup for updates so you'll be the
first to know when it launches.
So come, sit with me and signup for updates so you'll be the
first to know when it launches.

(07:18):
So Come, sit with me and let'sface those lines together.
I'll see you next time.
Hey, thanks for listening.
I don't take it for grantedthat you're here.
You didn't listen by mistake.
If you want to reach out, youcan DM me on Instagram at Tony
Thrash Until next week.
Remember, there's still timeleft on the clock.
Let's get you off the bench tostart your comeback.

(07:41):
I want to give a special shoutout to Country Club for the
original music.
You can find them on Instagramat Country Club.