Giants and Grasshoppers

Numbers 13:28, 31, 33
But the people living there are powerful, and their cities and towns are fortified and very large. …"We can't go up against them! They are stronger than we are!" …We even saw giants there... We felt like grasshoppers next to them, and that's what we looked like to them!"

Gigantic God,
You are compassionate and gracious; slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, forgiving our wickedness, rebellion and sin. Your Words remind me repeatedly how much I’m like the Israelites. On this journey of a lifetime, You’ve promised me abundantly rich blessings and a full life. I’ve witnessed marvelous wonders – a drastically transformed life, miraculous healing, release from problems that have plagued me, freedom from addictions and much more. Yet, I still listen to and believe the naysayers. Forgive me O God, for not believing You.

Surrounded by powerful people, I sometimes feel like a helpless little “grasshopper.” These predators plan to devour me with doubt and discouragement. Attacking my abilities and adequacy, their criticism makes me feel unworthy and unacceptable. Preoccupied with their prevalence, I’m paralyzed with panic, and prevented from pressing on toward Paradise, the Promised Land.
Exaggerating the risk, these naysayers, who are sometimes those closest to me, insist the mission is too dangerous or too difficult. Attacked by anxiety and apprehension, and confused by negative opinions, they rob me of my rich reward: hope and joy. O God have mercy on me for forgetting who You are and allowing these “giants” to coerce me and control my life.

Please dear Lord, set me free from the devastating control of these dominant dictators. Fill me with more of Your mighty power so that in Your strength I’ll boldly stand up against their opposition. Help me to make right choices based on Your wisdom, not intimidation. When I face “big” people who belittle me, please turn my eyes toward You. Gazing at Your gargantuan size, I’ll march forward courageously, triumphantly claiming blessed new territory for Your kingdom, honor and glory because of Jesus. Amen.

Who must you break free from in order to move forward to the land of blessing? Who’s holding you back, casting doubts on your dreams? Will you believe them or turn to God, trusting Him and Him alone to prosper and protect you?

Did you know that the command, “Do not be afraid” appears 65 times in the NIV Bible?

Being afraid is not wrong in itself. As creatures living in a sinful world we should be afraid at times. The problem is when fear forgets God. – Ed Welch, When People are Big and God is Small.