We’ve all heard this saying, “mountains out of molehills.” We may even know some people it applies to. Those are people that seem to make a big deal out of little things. Those are the ones that seem to make everything about them. No matter how bad someone’s situation is, theirs’ is worse. They seek attention because they get caught up in the little things. They make mountains out of molehills. We all know what a mountain is. Some are grand like the Rocky Mountains and some are much smaller, but when you start to climb one, you quickly realize you are on an uphill challenge. A molehill is a small mound of earth thrown up by a mole burrowing near the surface. A mole is a very small rodent about the size of a small mouse. This mound of dirt thrown out by the mole is not significant at all, when compared to even the smallest mountain. Those who see their situation as a mountain when it is very small are very short sited.
II Corinthians 4:18 “While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal.”
The things in this world that usually grab our attention are the things that bring us sorrow. If we look directly at the things that are wrong in our lives our mind gets fixed on them. When that happens, we don’t seem to be able to think of anything else. When our minds and our lives are controlled by our problems, they seem and feel worse than they are. This fixation on our problems makes them hang around longer. Even the things that are not so bad seem worse when we gaze at them.
However, if we focus on what is to come in eternity, it will change everything. We need to compare the trials of this life with the blessedness that awaits in eternity. When we do, the everlasting happiness that awaits us will pale in comparison to our problems, and they will be easier to bear. Paul gives us the secret of bearing trials with patience. We are to look at the unseen things! Look past today, look at all the things God has prepared for us. If Paul could focus on the glories of Heaven when he was beaten, imprisoned, and left for dead, we should be able to also. If we don’t, our problems only seem to get bigger. Our thoughts are continually on what is wrong in our lives. We quickly make a mountain out of a molehill. The little is magnified until it appears overwhelming.
How do we look outward instead of inward? It’s called faith. It is not a blind hope so faith. It is believing God will do what he says he will. His word gives up numerous examples of how He has worked in the lives of others, and these examples give us hope. Surely, if I can trust Him with my eternal soul, I can trust Him with my day-to-day life.
Hebrews 11:1 “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”
Paul tells us in II Corinthians 5:17 that when we come to Christ, all things become new. This includes the outlook of our circumstances. Everything we do takes on a different perspective. Our outlook is upward toward God for guidance to deal with our problems in a way that would glorify Him. We see others as an opportunity to share what God has done for us. Our desire is to not only please Him and spend eternity with Him, but we also want to influence as many as possible to turn to Him and discover this new life that puts things into perspective. We need to make up our minds that there will be no more mountains out of molehills. Our lives will no longer be all about me and my problems. It’s all about Him!
II Corinthians 5:17 “Therefore if any man is in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things become new.”
