Moving Beyond A Grasshopper Complex
“And there we saw the giants, the sons of Anak, which come of
The giants: and we were in our own sight as grasshoppers,
And so we were in their sight” (Numbers 13:33).
Introduction: In Modern America who would want to have a ‘grasshopper complex?’ Satirized by our childhood and criticized by others, would-be giants often shrink further at the thought of overcoming. But if we, “…rebel not against the Lord, neither fear ye the people of the land; for they are bread for us: their defence is departed from them, and the Lord is with us: fear them not” (Numbers 14:9). And “…Surely blessing I will bless thee, and multiplying I will multiply thee” (Hebrews 6:14). We can make the choice to accept our blessings and rid our minds of the ‘grasshopper’ complex. The Word of God offers us the ingredients and guidance necessary to overcome. And we must be willing to trust God for our victory.
No child decides that he or she would like to have a ‘grasshopper complex’ when he grows up. That is unheard of, and highly improbable. Yet it happens. Somewhere between childhood, and the age of maturity, those of us who live with this complex, suddenly realize that we are handicapped in doing the things that we would like to do. Try as hard as we may, our thinking will not allow us to access the better things in life. Overcoming is not an easy task, but it can happen. “Is any thing too hard for the LORD?” (Genesis 18:14a). “And there is nothing too hard for thee” (Jeremiah 32:17). If we would internalize the Scriptures, the Word of God, and allow them to penetrate our very being, we can overcome our ‘grasshopper’ complex.
So, You Have A Grasshopper Complex
Just as the children of Israel were afraid, often we find ourselves gripped by fear. They exclaimed, “Nevertheless the people be strong that dwell in the land, and the cities are walled, and very great: and moreover we saw the children of Anak there” (Numbers 13:28). The giants were from seven to nine feet tall. These huge men invoked an inferiority complex within the Israelites.’ They said, “…there we saw the giants, the sons of Anak, which come of the giants: and we were in our own sight as grasshoppers, and so we were in their sight” (Numbers 13:33).
It is obvious that fear had crept into the hearts of these men. “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind” (2 Timothy 1:7). Christ has delivered us from the spirit of fear, and filled us with: “power, and of love, and of a sound mind.” Fear holds us back from obtaining our spiritual or creative potential. The important thing is: We don’t have to allow fear to keep us in bondage, and create a shell for us to crawl under. Not only should we overcome, but it is imperative that we must.
Through God, You and I Can Overcome
As the fifty-five year old woman stood in front of the receptionist’s desk, she suddenly felt small. “I’m not a grasshopper, rather I’m a giant today!” she reminded herself silently as she handed the receptionist her application.
This elderly woman was, in her mind, a grasshopper. She had missed many opportunities because of her complex. After her husband died, she had a single goal: to pursue a career in business. She had the skills, the knowledge, and the education necessary to advance in the field she had chosen. There was one thing that held her hostage, however, it was the fear of being too old, and the complex that was a nagging source of anxiety. Determined, there was another bridge to cross: to get the job.
She made the first step: The recruiter had talked to her on the telephone, and then set up the interview. Talking on the telephone was different; there wasn’t a face to look at, or eyes to stare at her. But after the recruiter assured her that it was a friendly company, and Kathy would be fine, she felt better. Now here she was, and Kathy nervously plucked at an imaginary pimple on her face, and waited.
Then it happened. A burly man with a stony face walked through the door, and escorted her through double doors, and into his office. He offered her a seat, then walked behind a huge oak desk and sat down. He stared at Kathy for what seemed like hours, but in reality, it was only minutes. Finally, he spoke and Kathy leaned forward.
Mr. Morgan asked Kathy about the weather, and she began to relax a little. They talked for over thirty minutes, and finally, Mr. Morgan asked Kathy how soon she could start working.
Though Kathy was hired, the ramifications of her complex were still there. She kicked herself mentally for wasting over half of her life, and missing out on so many opportunities, because of the wall she had built around her. Fear will minimize your potentials and opportunities. You cannot succeed until you try. Failure is fear and not trying.
We allow our family, our friends, and others to speak words of doom and failure over us, and we sink further into our shells. Just as certainly as you succumb to criticism and negativity, you have lumped your future together under one umbrella of fear, while the very ones who put you down are racing to find their niche in society.
Don’t Clot Your Blessings
While a good education in the best schools and colleges have readied many students for outstanding careers, the lack of trust, fear, and the grasshopper complex will push you into bondage, and clot your blessings. By learning, through the Word of God, some have severed their restraints and moved forward.
A blood clot, in the physical sense, stops the flow of blood, thus causing its victim to result to blood thinners and evasive medications.
Spiritually, fear and doubt, act in much the same way as a blood clot. Fear will stop your flow of blessings, and minimize your spiritual creativity. There is hope, however, for through Jesus Christ, you can overcome.
Over Coming
The children of Israel didn’t trust God. They were afraid---and did not believe they could overcome. According to them, victory wasn’t possible. How could they possess a land that was filled with giants? What they failed to understand, however, was God was in charge, and He doesn’t see as we see. While they saw themselves as grasshoppers, God saw victory. He had promised to give Israel the land, and God does not go back on His promises.
In the midst of ‘grasshoppers,’ there will always be at least one person who will stand tall and trust God. Numbers 13:30: “And Caleb stilled the people before Moses, and said, Let us go up at once, and possess it; for we are well able to overcome it.” Caleb trusted God for victory. Instead of looking at the giants, Caleb kept his eyes on God. If you want to over come your grasshopper complex, you must keep your eyes on Christ. Don’t look at your circumstances, not even at your age, or inabilities, but keep your eyes on Jesus. In His eyes, you and I are somebody! We are, “…all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise” (Galatians 3:26-29). Then, “even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world: but when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, to redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ” (Galatians 4:3-7).
Numbers 14:6-9: “And Joshua the son of Nun, and Caleb the son of Jephunneh, which were of them that searched the land, rent their clothes: and they spake unto all the company of the children of Israel, saying, The land, which we passed through to search it, is an exceeding good land. If the Lord delight in us, then he will bring us into this land, and give it us; a land which floweth with milk and honey. Only rebel not ye against the Lord, neither fear ye the people of the land; for they are bread for us; their defence is departed from them and the Lord is with us, fear them not.”
Joshua and Caleb, the two men who were with those who scouted the land, trusted in the Lord. They knew that with God they had nothing to fear. It didn’t matter how big their giants were, or how low the valleys, with the Lord on their side, they could tunnel through. There was absolutely nothing to fear.
You and I have nothing to fear. Each morning, look into your mirror and say, “I don’t see myself as a grasshopper any more. Today is my day to be anything I desire to be. I am an over-comer! “I can do all things through Christ which strengthened me” (Philippians 4:13).
Elder Arthur L. Mason
Marie Baker Mason, Phd
Copyright: © 2009
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