Wednesday, April 11, 2012

"Resist Self-Pity"

"Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world." 1 Peter 5:9

I feel impressed to warn you to be on guard when you are going through difficult times and testing that you don't fall into the trap of self-pity. You must resist the temptation to feel sorry for yourself. It is a temptation that we can fall into no matter how "mature" or "spiritual" we may be- no one is exempt. Look at the great prophet Elijah.

Elijah was the prophet who called fire down from heaven, who prayed that it would not rain and it didn't for three years, then he prayed that it would start raining again and it did. Yet we see him later in a cave feeling sorry for himself.

As I said earlier, resist the temptation to feel sorry for yourself, to think that you are the only one who is suffering, to question why this is happening to you. True enough you may be suffering, things may not be going as planned, you may be in a bad situation, but don't give into self-pity. It will take you down into a pit of depression. It will make you resentful and bitter. It will make you fearful. It will swallow up your faith with confusion.

Instead, remember that you aren't the only one who has suffered or suffered wrongly- if you don't know anyone personally who has, just open your Bible, you will see that most of the characters within its pages have: Job, Paul, Joseph, the prophets, Jesus, etc.

Also remember that nothing happens to you that your Heavenly Father doesn't know about. He is watching over you. He is with you through these times. And remember also that all these things- the trials, the temptations, the difficulties, the false accusations, the burdens, the rejection- all work together for good in your life, somehow, someway.

Have a great day. Resist the temptation to feel sorry for yourself when things aren't going your way.

For further reading:
1 Kings 19
Romans 8:28
Genesis 45:1-8

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Coffee Break is a morning devotional written by Lorraine Ezell
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3 comments:

Mike said...

Ironically I found drinking coffee is is a form of self pity. It gives your body more stress, you feel you need it (why need coffee?). It is addictive and sets your mind in some sort of 'illusional' state instead of a relaxing state and see truth.

Mike said...
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Mike said...
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