Giant? Elephant? Giant Elephant?

Life is always full of unexpected challenges.  Many of them seem to be giants…or big ol’ elephants. Sometimes we can convince ourselves that if we just walk over to the side, or not even go in that direction we will not have to deal with it, and everything will be great. Sometimes the giant is an attitude or a way of thinking that keeps us behind the line, and stuck in a place that doesn’t allow us freedom.  

 This just gets me to thinking about David and Goliath.  The armies of the Philistines and the armies of Israel were camped each on a mountain with a valley betwixt them.  A champion from the Philistine army who was *six cubits and a span* went out from the camp and challenged them to send out one who would fight against him.  If that man could fight and kill him they would be their servants but if not then Israel would be servant to the Philistines.

*{One cubit is 17 to 22 inches (the length of an adult human forearm measured from the tip of the middle finger to the elbow) and a span is about 9 inches (the distance between the stretched out tips of the thumb and little finger). Six cubits plus one span is 111 inches to 141 inches, or 9 feet 3 inches to 11 feet 9 inches. Taking the average, it would be approximately 10 feet 6 inches) so he was approximately 10 feet 6 inches tall! }

Not only was this man a giant, but he was their champion, He wore a bronze helmet on his head and wore a coat of mail weighing in at 125 lbs.  He wore bronze armor on his legs, he had a bronze javelin, and the iron spearhead was 15 lbs.  This was no wimpy giant.  This was a force to be reckoned with.

Is there a force to be reckoned with in your life? Is it the big white elephant in the room that you can see but do not talk about? …When you think about it does it make you tremble with fear?  Does it cause you to desire seclusion…like in a hole far away…?  Does the giant taunt you…You will serve me the rest of your life!  You will never make it through this…. You will be bound by these conditions forever…You will never change…you won’t make it…You can’t do this…You were born this way…you will never change…What makes you think you even have a chance?

Is the force or your big white elephant something that makes you feel blamed, discredited, or disgraced?  What is the source of your reproach?

 “Listen to Me, you who know righteousness, you people in whose heart is My law: Do not fear the reproach of men, nor be afraid of their insults.”
Is 51:7

We all have areas in our lives that need to be dealt with.  We cannot let giants or elephants remain and take up such great space in our lives, to rule over us.  We must confront them.  We must approach them as David did Goliath… He hurried and ran toward the army.  He did not run away from Goliath.  He went forward in the confidence and strength of the Lord.

 If we resist the enemy he will flee, but if we run away, we will only have to face him in another area.  Just because something makes us uncomfortable doesn’t mean we should walk away… and yet there is a time to go.  Truth applied makes us free.

To confront is to directly question or honestly deal with something, it means to disagree or oppose, to face, recognize and deal with straightforwardly, and to master by confronting with determination. 

What is it for you that God is calling you to master by confronting with determination?