Do you remember the Bible story in Numbers 13 and 14 about how Moses sent Joshua, Caleb, and ten other spies to scope out Canaan, the land God had promised the Israelites? Do you remember the result? A couple of the team sparkled with excitement at what they saw, and they brought back some of the fabulous fruit that grew there. They reported that it was “a land that flows with milk and honey.” But the majority only saw the negatives; the mighty giants who lived there.
Caleb and Joshua said, “Let’s go take the land. We can do it,” while the other ten said, “No way! Scary giants live there, and they made us feel like grasshoppers in comparison. Plus, they have enormous cities that are virtually impregnable, and conquering them is impossible.” Ultimately, Joshua and Caleb were the only two of the spies who lived to enter the promised land. They believed in what God could do, but the other ten died in the wilderness due to their lack of faith.
This week, I realized that the camp of the other ten spies, the ones who only saw giants and were fearful, was slowly drawing me in. My husband has significant health issues, and a few days into the new year, he had a mishap and fractured six ribs. The initial X-rays didn’t show the fractures, but a subsequent CT scan, taken more than a week later, revealed the damage. That explained the excruciating pain and why it hadn’t begun to resolve.
And that is when my heart plummeted, and all I could see were giants. One more significant health issue piled on top of another. Philippians 4:8b says, “Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.” How do you do that when you live in the land of giants? And more keep popping up like in a real-life game of whack-a-mole.
The second week of January is always our church’s annual week of prayer. The final service this year concluded with a sermon from the lead pastor of all our campus churches. He said that so many of us see God as too small. That struck a chord with me. As the giants stack up and loom over us, my view of God has been shrinking. Awareness is the first step toward change, so now I can begin to move away from the giant-fearing spy camp.
Several months ago, a friend mentioned that at one time she had placed a single mustard seed in an heirloom bowl to remind her of Jesus’ words. Matthew 17:20b reads, “Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.” Last week, I followed her example and placed a single mustard seed in a small bowl where I would see it daily. And by reframing my thoughts, instead of seeing that tiny seed as a reminder of the faith I need to overcome the giants we face, I can use it to reflect on God’s greatness. A God who can move mountains. That’s what Joshua and Caleb did. The others saw giants; they saw an amazing God.
We will all encounter giants in this life. That’s a given. Although we can’t control our circumstances, we can choose the camp where we pitch our tents. I choose Joshua and Caleb’s, knowing that our God is a BIG God, and for that I am grateful.
Until next time,
Brenda Erb Roberts
Thank you for reading about my journey. If you enjoyed this article, please share it.
For further reading:
My previous Inspirational reflection: Standing on the Precipice of Possibility.
Looking Back: Last January’s Inspirational article: Snow, Frigid Temperatures and Flower Buds?
My latest Lighter Side (Humour) blog post: Scarred for Life.