Have you ever been so overwhelmed in your life that you felt hopeless, or like you were at the end of your rope? For sure life is a beautiful gift, but one of the things that make it so beautiful is the transitions from one point to another. Its where the depths of our lows meet and emphasize our highs. These battles are not only what make our lives an adventure it’s what good movies are made of.

Many of you are familiar with the Hobbit movies, if you are not please bear with me and I will fill you in as we go.

A week before Christmas I went to see the third Hobbit film, The Battle of the Five Armies. I love every Hobbit movie I’ve gone to, not only because of the exciting scenes but the very real truth that underlies their stories.

This scene in particular of Bard and Smaug was the most captivating of all, because of its symbolism and I would like to share it with you.

For all you who haven’t seen the movie, picture this. The screen is filled with flames, fire everywhere burning buildings and homes. Innocent people scream as the enormous fire breathing dragon known as Smaug continues to fly through the sky of Laketown torching and destroying the village and all he sees. There is only one man fit to challenge the dragon, Bard.

The brave bargeman has climbed to the heights of what’s left of the village’s bell tower in a desperate attempt to slay the dragon. Once there he is met by his son Bain who has the only arrow that can penetrate the dragon.

At this point things can’t get any worse.

Laketown has been nearly if not completely destroyed by the flames, the tower on which our two heroes stand is falling apart, and Bard’s bow is now in two. There is nothing hopeful about this… not the past, present or unforeseen future suggests any sign of encouragement and Bain knows it.

Bard and Bain in this clip prevail against incredible odds, but if you notice its Bard who is the victor. Bain couldn’t have done it without his father. This scene screams the reality of our lives.

Metaphorically speaking God and Bard are the same, just as you and I are Bain, and Smaug our strife. Our lives crumble around us in a million different ways and sometimes even paralyze us as it comes down. We all have hardships and they can vary from emotions to specific tragedies. Perhaps it’s a broken relationship of our own, anxiety, parent’s divorce, depression, maybe it’s the daily whisper in your ear that says you’re never good enough or you don’t belong etc. All of them have an effect on us, and they can burn and destroy us from the inside out unless we fix our eyes on the one thing bigger and stronger than whatever dragon stands before us.

I love this scene because it displays so much of our Father’s love for us. It is the epitome of His strength and refuge. I look at this clip and I see myself in such desperation, but more importantly, I see how lovingly the father looks at the son. Bard knows Bain’s pain and need and he also knows how to meet those needs. Another consolation evident in this clip is the mere fact that Bain saw nothing but the problems around him, little did he know that Bard had a plan to protect them. It was only when he held still (“Be still and know I am God” Psalm 46:10) and fixed his gaze on his father that they were able to be victorious and kill Smaug.

We sometimes find ourselves overwhelmed with chaos, on shaky ground, or paralyzed with fear just as Bain in this scene. Moments like these have, do, and will continue to come throughout our lives. The hard question we face and need to answer is will I allow the hardships to take me or will I choose to listen to my father when he says “Look at me… You look at me.”