What Lurks in Murky Waters

“He who hates, disguises it with his lips, and lays up deceit within himself; when he speaks kindly, do not believe him, for there are seven abominations in his heart; though his hatred is covered by deceit, his wickedness will be revealed before the assembly.” (Proverbs 26:24-26 NKJV)

I stood, camera in hand, at the edge of a dark lagoon as daylight faded. Surrounding me, dense bushes rustled with the white feathers and squawks of snowy egrets settling down for the evening. I waited…for the perfect golden hour, the perfect photo.

I had spotted this cloistered setting earlier while on a stroll near the beach and returned to set up the shot. I didn’t expect, though, to be greeted by a native resident—one of the monster alligators inhabiting the linked waterways.

Too big to be quiet, it cracked dead sawgrass and palm fronds as it crept through the underbrush. With my focus on the delightful bird vespers, the hidden threat didn’t register right away. By the time I realized my predicament, the thing had stopped and lurked somewhere nearby in the shadows.

I slowly crept backward, watching every direction for the sudden lunge of a razor-toothed behemoth weighing hundreds of pounds more than I did. Figuring that the dangers and odds were in the alligator’s favor, I kept moving.

Fortunately for me, the attack never came, and I scurried back to lighted, busy civilization. I still don’t know how I could have prevented the beast from dragging me into the blackened waters. I’m glad I never had to find out.

Alligators are powerful predators, and you don’t want to be on the prey side of the equation. They can grow to be more than 15 feet long, weigh more than 1,000 pounds, live more than 50 years, and smile with 80 jagged teeth. Gators live at and just below the surface of murky swamp water.

Typically, alligators are not aggressive unless it’s nesting season or they’re threatened. Even so, don’t walk with your children or dogs near lagoons in the South. And by all means, don’t treat a gator sighting as an opportunity for a close-up selfie.

Doesn’t that sound a lot like the description of a spiritual enemy? 

Jesus—and later, Paul—warned of evil, dangerous teachers among the brethren. Scribes and Pharisees were hidden alligators as they taught God’s salvation was through law-keeping instead of by faith. They lived in murkiness where they could mix a bit of truth with their falsehoods and remain undetected.

Murky water is a place we need to avoid. It’s easy to spot alligators in the clarity of a clean swimming pool. But they thrive in places where we can’t see them until it’s too late. Fear, doubting, procrastination, peer pressure, addiction, laziness, pride—all can muddy our vision and keep us from seeing the truth about our enemies. That’s when deceivers are most capable of ensnaring us and taking us down to the depths of their iniquity.

But we are not alone. We have a protector in Jesus Christ, a strong defense against Satan and his deputies. Jesus is our only safeguard in spiritual warfare.

Nothing is concealed from Him. “And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account” (Hebrews 4:13 NKJV). Dark ponds cannot hide anything from Him…He is Creator of all things. Also, He is our Great High Priest who can sympathize with us in the face of temptations, helping us stand strong and forgiving us when we fall. And, as Captain of the angel armies, there is no foe He cannot defeat—not even the devil. Jesus will rescue you, reveal what is true, and defeat the demons of destruction with a simple breath.

Our job is to be ever aware that the devil is a prowling lion (or a predatory alligator) seeking to overpower us. We need to avoid the slippery slopes of sin where dangers lurk, to stay away from temptations set up for traps. We need Jesus to give us His discernment, wisdom, and saving work in navigating the pitfalls of life.

Up to your neck in alligators? You and I both need to call on Jesus. He is the only Savior who can release us from their grip, lead us away from the lies that obscure them, and give us the sweet release of His freedom.

Blessed Jesus, how we need You and Your guidance when we are surrounded by threats. Help us, please, when we encounter those who would lure us away from You. Give us Your wisdom, guidance, and strength to endure the battles and temptations against us. Forgive us when we stray, and bring us back safely into Your fold. In Your name, Amen.

Nancy C. Williams is a Christian wife/mom with a writing career spanning more than 40 years in business and journalism. Williams is the author of the novel To Love a Falcon and the devotional book A Crocus in the Desert: Devotions, Stories, and Prayers for Women Experiencing Infertility. Her blogs are featured on Crossmap.com and AriseDaily. To follow Nancy’s posts and news, go to her home page at NancyCWilliams.com and subscribe at the bottom. 

© Copyright 2025 Nancy C. Williams (text and photography). Unless otherwise noted, Scripture verses are taken from the New King James Version®, Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved. #alligator #swamp #lagoon #swampwater