The Dinosaurs have Shrunk!

Many years ago, aged 8, my parents took me to London to visit the Natural History Museum. I remember the awe I felt coming face-to-face with the enormous dinosaur skeleton of a Brontosaurus in the entrance hall! Everything there seemed huge and foreign. It made a big impact. So when, years later as a 23-year old student in London, I revisited that museum, I was shocked and deeply disappointed to discover that the dinosaurs had shrunk! They were no longer such a threat.

To a child, many things seem and actually are too big to handle. They can evoke awe and feelings of helplessness. But then children are not supposed to take on responsibilities beyond their years. They are meant to be protected by their parents from things which are beyond their grasp and competence level. As they grow and develop emotionally and intellectually, a watchful and caring parent will gradually entrust a child and teenager with more household responsibilities, freedoms and knowledge. For example, they can be allowed to do baby-sitting for the family, cutting the grass, climbing trees, cleaning windows, answering the door to strangers and having driving lessons. As we grow, our perspective on the world changes so that what once seemed beyond us, now no longer is such a challenge.

However, when life’s experiences are not so good, they can leave scars which affect our thinking and outlook. Seemingly insignificant issues to most people can seem like huge problems to others. A molehill becomes a mountain in the eyes of the beholder! As our scripture records, the promised land of Israel looked different to the twelve spies sent into the land by Moses. Eleven of them were terrified by the giants they saw; only Caleb had the eyes of faith to see the land positively and accurately: “We should go up and take possession of the land, for we can certainly do it’ (Numbers 13:30).

The good news is that for us who struggle with issues which seem bigger than we can handle, Jesus has come to give us faith that we can be free and then the help to gain that freedom. We can take our own personal promised land and eat of its fruit!

Prayer: Dear Lord Jesus, please help me identify the ‘giants’ in my life, which You want to help me overcome and to see them from Your perspective! I ask You for all the help and courage I need to defeat the enemy strongholds in my life, so that I may dwell in the land You have prepared for me. Thank You, Lord, for the victories You have won ahead of me! Amen.