The Elephant in the Room

With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation.

– Isaiah 12:3

There's a famous story about three blindfolded men who were asked to touch and identify an undisclosed object. And that object happened to be a live African elephant ... but no one told them!

The first man touched the elephant's muscular trunk. The second man grasped the pachyderm's boney tale. And the third man — moving his hands across the beast's rugged hide — marveled at its rough exterior. Needless to say, their perspectives were way off the mark. A 10,000-pound elephant was right in front of them, and they failed to see the big picture.

Many people also miss the big picture when it comes to gratitude. As Christ-followers, we can be grateful that our relationship with Jesus grants us access to our Creator — a loving Father who hears our prayers and looks for ways to bless us. So, no matter how dire the headlines, we already know that the story will end on a positive note. The experiences of the apostle Paul illustrate this principle:  

“Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was pelted with stones, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea,” he wrote in 2 Corinthians. “I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my fellow Jews, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false believers.

Now, fast-forward about 2,000 years, and there’s still plenty of danger and negativity to go around. So, what’s the secret for achieving a joy-filled, Christ-centered life? The Bible tells us to blend thanksgiving for our blessings and authentic, regular prayer with discernment — those ongoing, intentional functions of living, thinking, and acting positively. Looking for the good and dwelling on the positive should therefore become second nature.

When our lives are filled with gratitude and joy, even the most unpleasant of circumstances can’t bring us down. Paul spent years in prison chained to his guards while under the constant threat of death. But he always prayed thankfully and joyously. And instead of feeling sorry for himself, he used his situation to change the lives of fellow prisoners and jailers alike — and all while writing much of what we today know as the New Testament. 

Yes, times are tough these days and the news is bleak. But Paul’s advice to today’s weary Christ-followers is still timely, profound, and relevant:

“Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!”