Kicking Against the Pricks

I have been given the very special opportunity to watch a nine/ten month old since the beginning of the semester. It is extra wonderful because I get to learn about babies at that age without getting overwhelmed, although all the graham cracker goo at the beginning of the semester almost did me in before I learned to cope and to let things go.

As I have chased this little crawler around the Institute, kept him from doing headers off of chairs, tried to keep him from choking on crackers and from sliding backward off cushions with my hand on his back I wondered if Heavenly Father ever feels that way with us. He sees the danger we're in, knows that He has offered us protection, knows how close we are to a danger we don't understand and that it is still up to our agency whether we will take his protection or not.

In Acts 26:14 Christ tells Saul that it is hard to kick against the pricks. In the ancient world a prick was a rod with a metal point used to goad an ox in the right direction while ploughing. By directing the ox to plough a straight line it makes the planted furrow more productive with a better harvest yield. Sometimes however the ox didn't want to go in a straight line and would rebel against the prick, kicking it and driving the pointed stick deeper into its leg. (1) We sometimes are like this animal, we decide that we don't want to go in the direction we are being prodded to go, we kick out against the direction from the Lord and find a heap full of discontent and unrest. The Lord is simply trying to help us to be as productive as we can and instead we lash out at Him complaining He doesn't know what is going on.

I've been struggling this week with kicking against the pricks. A few weeks ago I decided I wanted the Holy Ghost as a more constant companion in my life. My friend gave me some really good advice, do whatever He says no matter how silly or frustrating. So I've been trying to put it to the test, of course the adversary is aware of this desire and wants to muddy the waters as much as possible, cause upset and distraction. So of course enter temptation and frustration, whether my favorite tv show going naughty and knowing I need to give it up if I really want the spirit as a companion. What we give up is so small compared to what the Lord offers us, yet Satan works to make it seem so big and so trivial. He says things like "if Heavenly Father really loves you He'll let you keep doing what you want and still get blessings" he says "if your spouse really loved you he'd do this for you" or "that doesn't really matter just keep doing it, it isn't a problem" or my personal favorite "you deserve to get this one your way". These lies from Satan can cause us to forget that the Lord is in control, He sees the danger, He loves us and wants the best for us. He just wants us to be our best selves and asks things of us accordingly and he says to us as he said to Saul "it is hard for you to kick against the pricks". It is hard for us because as much as Heavenly Father wants to bless us he cannot do so if we are not obedient. His spirit cannot be with us if we are actively denying the direction He gave us, because the Spirit is not present with untruth and the adversary pounces upon this stirring up emotions while the spirit is not present to offer peace. We live in a non-neutral world, if we are not actively engaging with the Spirit and inviting the Lord into our lives then the adversary is sneaking in his lies, negativity and darkness when we kick against the pricks show to Satan we want our own way and he loves a good show of pride. Yet as the story of Paul shows us, even after kicking at the pricks we can become tools in the hands of the Lord and do wonders we never thought possible.



(1) https://gotquestions.org/kick-against-the-pricks.html