I have discovered something peculiar about myself: I handle big, dramatic tragedies a lot better than I handle small, unimpressive cuts that over time and with repetition create a vast canyon in my heart.
How about you?
When something really big happens, it is obvious that the only way I can make it is with the strength of Almighty God. However with smaller things that come against me, (many times) I try to handle them in my own strength. Big things force the issue, but I can let little things go on and on.
I was feeling ripped apart after a series of “little things” so I decided to go for a bike ride by myself early in the morning. Being in God’s creation always helps me. As I pedaled along, I replayed the words someone had said over and over and over again. I began to pray, “Dear Lord why am I letting this hurt me so bad?”
A picture of the Grand Canyon popped into my head. I thought about how that enormous canyon was formed by a continuous trickle of water cutting into the earth over time. In that moment I realized that I was letting a ceaseless trickle wear me down. I was amazed to think about the bigger events that had recently happened and how God strengthened me through those, yet the little cuts seemed to linger and hurt so much worse.
Then the holy spirit impressed this on me: “Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
Here it is in its context from Matthew 6:19-21:
“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
As I was riding along on my bike and thinking about this biblical perspective, I became extremely encouraged!
I had treasured people’s approval too much, and I was continually allowing their opinions to make impressions on me. God gently reminded me of where my true treasure lies. I know in my heart who God calls me to be and what He calls me to do. Nobody else has to understand. His words over me are the truth. I started thinking about the ugly things that had been said, and the power they once held lessened immediately in light of His Word!
I breathed in the mountains and the lake view I was riding through. It was all so big and beautiful and amazing and awesome.
“You are so big, God, and all of these little cuts are so small.” I realized that I could let these small things create a canyon in my heart or I could stop the erosion with God’s power!
I chose to place my treasure where it rightly belongs: in heaven…With Him…his amazing greatness! I can focus on what He is calling me to do no matter how discouraging people on earth can be. They don’t know my heart, they don’t know what God is doing in me, and they don’t understand the big picture of my life.
Friends, I cannot say it enough: Listen to God, obey God…don’t let people take His place in your heart!
Our enemy will use anything (little or large) to wear us down and take us out. Don’t let the little things go on and on cutting into your heart. I want to encourage you to get alone with God and let him speak to your heart! Let him give you a word that is just for you and your life. Defeat the enemy with the word of God, our sword in the spirit!
Jesus fought off the enemy by saying, “It is written…” and Satan could not win. We can follow Jesus’ example and dam up the trickle that tries to erode our soul. Our treasure is in heaven, and nothing here on earth can destroy it in Jesus’ Name!