113: Be Like A Lion
Hello and welcome to The Hope Podcast. I’m Aneel Aranha. Today we are going to talk about how the size of the dog in the fight doesn’t matter; it’s the size of the fight in the dog.
I have an Instagram account (aneel.aranha if you want to add me), and when I want to unwind, I'll scroll through the videos on them. They are very short, and many of them — especially the ones featuring babies and animals — are laugh-out-loud funny!
I recently watched one such video of a big dog who saw a cat sunning herself and decided to chase it. When the dog got close to the cat, the annoyed cat lifted one paw and the dog, five times the size of the cat, ran for his life! I couldn't help roar with laughter! It reminded me of what Mark Twain had once said: It's not the size of the dog in the fight; it's the size of the fight in the dog!
What's true for dogs is also true for people. Some people are very aggressive but they have no backbone. When faced with somebody who doesn't back down, they crumble like a biscuit. However, it isn't just in a physical confrontation that this saying holds good. It is in how we live life.
I am sure you have heard the saying: When the going gets tough, the tough get going. Some folks look meek and mild, and you get the impression they are pushovers. However, when they are faced with a challenge, especially a formidable one, you can see that they are made of steel. They set their mind and heart to overcoming whatever obstacles block their path, and before you know it, they have surmounted them with the style and elegance of an experienced hurdle jumper.
Let us not be intimidated, either by people or situations. As Paul told Timothy, God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but of power, love and self-discipline (see 2 Timothy 1:6-7). However, we need to fan these sparks into a flame. We do this by constantly practicing these traits of power, love and self-discipling, asking God for guidance and direction as we go about doing them. Not all battles are won by fighting and God's advice here is vital.
So, dear friend, it doesn't matter if you are small in size. If you are big in heart you can accomplish the impossible, especially with God by your side.
May the Spirit be with you.