How to Tame an Elephant In Your Life
No doubt you’ve heard the saying about the elephant in the room, the issue, situation, or problem no one wants to talk about or deal with, but the one everyone knows is there, an anxious pachyderm lurking in the back of everyone’s mind, waiting to burst out of the bushes into the open.
Is there an elephant in your life? Is there an issue, situation, or problem you don’t want to deal with, or you’re are afraid of facing, but know it’s there and needs your attention?
What Is Your Elephant?
The elephant in your life could be a belly that keeps growing due to poor eating habits, or a pain in the side you keep ignoring. It could be an addiction you’ll deal with tomorrow. It could be a sin behavior that you have convinced yourself is no big deal every time you give in to temptation.
Baby elephants like Dumbo, the junior elephant with big ears in the Disney film by that name, are cute and harmless. But when you ignore the impatient pachyderm in your life that needs attention, it grows larger and larger until you have to deal with it immediately or suffer the consequences.
It’s time to send the pachyderm in your life packing.
Whether you have one elephant in your life or a herd, it’s time to act. It’s time to tame the elephant in your life, grab it by the trunk, and send the pachyderm packing.
How to Confront Your Elephant
You do this by confronting the floppy-eared pachyderm. You may have ignored it for a long time, but plant your feet mentally and emotionally on the ground and look the issue, situation, or problem in the eyes.
A good next step is to realize you are not the only one facing the long-eared mammal you have been consciously or unconsciously ignoring. If you look around in life’s jungle, you’ll see others struggling to tame the same wild beast.
Next, you need to assess what will happen because you have ignored the pesky pachyderm, and then take action.
Ready to Take Action?
What action should you take?
That depends on whether the elephant is moseying around and the issue is not critical, or it begins charging and needs immediate action. Even national park and wildlife experts disagree on exactly what to do when the largest and most impressive beast in the jungle begins to attack in the brush or on a savannah.
In summary, there are many experts who can help you take corrective action. But remember, God is also faithfully standing beside you as he said he would, regardless of how huge the elephant or herd may be. All you have to do is take his powerful right hand and stand your ground in prayer.
Additional reading:
Listen to God’s Words
No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it. (1 Corinthians 10:13)
Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous be shaken. (Psalm 55:22)
Therefore, since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God. (2 Corinthians 7:1)
Also Read: 1 Samuel 17:45, 2 Corinthians 4:8-9, James 1:2-4
In the Words of Others
“Sometimes you don’t realize your own strength until you come face to face with your greatest weakness.” Susan Gayle
“Love will draw an elephant through a key-hole.”
Samuel Richardson
“Don’t just run from temptation, look it in the eye and defeat it.” Baylor Barbee
Think About It
What is the elephant in your life you have been ignoring? Do you have more than one trumpeting for your attention?
What are the consequences of not taming the elephant? Have you pictured your life if you let the elephant run amuck?
Imagine focusing on what life would be without the elephant in your life? How does this make you feel?
