Elihu came to Jesus in tears one day.
He felt wronged by someone he loved dearly. Because the one he had loved refused to take it back, there was no comfort to be found. It had been a miscommunication between them. That was the reason given. But those words only made Elihu’s grief cut deeper.
“Lord, does it not count when someone accuses you wrongfully? Does having a reason make it ok? Then why do I hurt more? I don’t want to hurt. It’s petty. Yet I feel locked out of that person’s heart. I feel like my pain does not matter and nothing can be done.”
“Come to me, Elihu,” Jesus said tenderly to the weeping child, “Come and take my hand.”
“Lord, I am afraid to. What if my palms get sweaty, will you let go?” Elihu said, eyes downcast, afraid to be hurt again by someone he loved deeply.
“I will not let you go.” Jesus replied.
So Elihu drew near to Jesus and put his hand in his.
“I want you to command this mountain of accusation to go to the sea,” Jesus said.
And Elihu saw a mountain rise up before them. It was a strange mountain, not particularly sturdy. It was as if the blocks of a Tetris game had been replaced by icicles. And these icicles had fallen on top of each other and were fused together in a haphazard fashion.
A funny thought came to Elihu:
“I suppose no one would sort out accusations like clothes and toys because they are neither desired nor treasured. And the people who hurl them wouldn’t be bothered about how they land! Oh, this is such a funny-looking mountain.”
Elihu laughed. And as he did, he looked into the eyes of the one who still held his hand.
“Command this mountain to go to sea,” Jesus said.
Elihu was afraid that it wouldn’t. The sting of his wound told him he was bad and didn’t have the authority. But the warmth that seeped through Jesus’ hand into his began to spread like a warm fire within him. Even though he wasn’t sure if he could, Jesus was there with him and waiting for him to. So Elihu commanded the mountain:
“Go into the sea!”
Nothing happened.
“Try again,” Jesus said, “Remember that if you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you can tell this mountain to go into the sea and it will go.”
“Go into the sea, I command you!” Elihu tried again, with his faith, the size of a mustard seed.
And then it happened. The mountain quivered a little. Elihu wasn’t sure anything had happened, but the mountain had definitely lifted off the ground. He was surprised because it had felt so effortless. The mountain seemed far too light for such a tall structure.
So Elihu thought that this is because most accusations are spoken in a fit of anger or a bout of fear, or received in that way, and there is often not so much substance in them.
The 3rd time he said it, Elihu said it quietly but firmly: “Go into the sea, I command you,” and he knew that this time it would happen.
He realized that authority is not found in a loud voice or confident frame, but in the belief of Jesus’ love and ability to do what He promises. And sometimes we have to speak a word with mustard seed faith in order that it may take root in our hearts and grow into a tree of life.
“Thank-you,” he whispered, so softly no human ear would have been able to hear. But he knew Jesus heard him. And he did.
Thus, the haphazard, untidy mountain of accusation was swallowed up by the sea, and all was still again. The horizon was clear and beautiful dancing lights in the sky greeted them. A sense of peace and quiet confidence washed over Elihu. Jesus was still holding his hand, as he had promised, and it really didn’t matter that it was sweaty.