Miniature Skyscrapers

“Whoa is me.” “Why is God doing this to me?” How many times have we felt this way? We believe that the world itself is against us and feel content in having our own pity party. Lately I have had the displeasure of watching a pillar in the faith self destruct because of these feelings. Even though I will be the first to tell you that life is hard and never fair. I can also tell you that God is bigger.
“But you just don’t understand what I’m going through…” Now I’m going to be a little harsh here but I don’t have to, and furthermore it doesn’t matter. As I read through the book of Job, I see a man that loses everything and I mean everything. His family, possessions, and even his health are all taken from him. His friends tell him to curse God and die but he refuses and is, at the end of the ordeal, rewarded for his faithfulness. That’s great but I find it interesting that if you read chapters 26-31 you will see Job’s cries of desperation. Right after this, Elihu, who like me is telling Job that he can see Job’s hardship but reminds Job that God is greater than his problems. In Job 33:8-14 Elihu lays it on the line when he says:

8 "But you have said in my hearing—
I heard the very words-
9 'I am pure and without sin;
I am clean and free from guilt.
10 Yet God has found fault with me;
he considers me his enemy.
11 He fastens my feet in shackles;
he keeps close watch on all my paths.'
12 "But I tell you, in this you are not right,
for God is greater than man.
13 Why do you complain to him
that he answers none of man's words?
14 For God does speak—now one way, now another—
though man may not perceive it.

After Elihu speaks then God speaks, I love how God comes to Job and is very straight with him. “Who is this that darkens my counsel with words without knowledge (referring to Job 26-31)? Brace yourself like a man; I will question you and you shall answer me.” Job 38:2&3. God then shows Job his creation and asks Job a bunch of rhetorical questions that show how great God really is. In Job 42, Job gives a speech of repentance:

1 Then Job replied to the LORD:
2 "I know that you can do all things;
no plan of yours can be thwarted.
3 You asked, 'Who is this that obscures my counsel without knowledge?'
Surely I spoke of things I did not understand,
things too wonderful for me to know.
4 "You said, 'Listen now, and I will speak;
I will question you,
and you shall answer me.'
5 My ears had heard of you
but now my eyes have seen you.
6 Therefore I despise myself
and repent in dust and ashes."

It was only after this repentance and the prayer by Job to save his unbelieving friends that God restored Job to twice as much as he had begun with.

So what is the moral of the story, remember that as you go through the trials of this life that God is bigger. I found a quote the other day by Mark Batterson that states: “The more we grow, the bigger God should get. And the bigger God gets, the smaller our lions (problems, obstacles, trials) will become.” If today you are going through a struggle that seems impossible then I challenge you to remember the greatness of our Lord. Once you get a grasp on the greatness of God then I guarantee that all of those insurmountable obstacles will become nothing more than speed bumps.

Pink Elephants

Okay now that I have your attention, read on and I’ll explain the significance of the "pink elephant" as it pertains to my life. Have you ever had the answer to a problem and no one will listen to you? For example, back when I was in school if I knew the answer to a question I raised my hand to give it. Unfortunately, more times than not the teacher wouldn’t let me give the answer due to me knowing the answer most of the time (I am not trying to be prideful just making a point). Needless to say it was frustrating to wait for someone else when I had the answer. In the same way when I listen to the problems and concerns of others I usually cannot give the answer to them b/c they do not want to hear it causing the same frustration. Sometimes it is because they know what I’m going to say and other times they think they know more and do not need my advice. So here is what I have to say about a couple subjects, more to come in later posts.
As most of you know I am a believer of the Bible and everything held therein. The blessing/curse of that is when someone who is also a believer tells me their problems I have a hard time being compassionate towards them. The Word of God says "by his wounds we are healed" Isaiah 53:5. To me this encompasses emotional, physical, and spiritual healing, so why do so many Believers complain about their sickness. The Word also says "Cast your cares on the LORD and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous fall." Psalms 55:22, so why do we fear what may happen. These as well as many other lessons are hard to learn for all of us but if we are to become successful children of God we need to learn these things.
So what is the deal with the pink elephant you are still asking? Well in my parents house if a subject is off limits to talk about we say "Pink Elephant" and the subject is changed. When I began to think about writing this and future post the subjects that God is giving me revelation in are "Pink Elephants" to most Christians.