THE TRAP OF SELF PITY
06th Jul 2017
We are never promised a life without problems, but we are promised resources to get us through. Psalm 34:19 says, “A righteous man may have many troubles, but the Lord delivers him from them all.” and in the Message it says, “Disciples so often get into trouble; still, God is there every time.”
John Newton wrote the hymn Amazing Grace, and he did experience the grace of God that enabled him to write with confidence, “Through many dangers toils and snares I have already come, ‘tis grace that brought me safe thus far, and grace will lead me home.”
Self-pity is a tool of satan, frequently used to get your eyes off God’s resources and promises and to instead focus on your needs, how unfairly you have been treated, how no one understands you etc.etc. Circumstances of life are often bad, difficult, and with human wisdom, hard to even think there is a solution. The moment we start to think negative thoughts we spiral downwards into the slough of despond. It’s a hard place to climb out of, and often we need others to pull us up and encourage us back to the firm ground of trusting God.
Self-pity robs you of strength because it targets joy and seeks to make a mockery of believing. Joy, strength, peace and hope are life giving - the total opposite of self-pity.
I am praying for people facing trials of various kinds; one is battling cancer, another an extremely difficult family situation. Others are needing practical wisdom in a critical financial situation. As I was praying this morning, God spoke to my heart and assured me that He is carrying these people. He is taking parental care for them and in fact fully supporting them and the weight of the situations they are facing.
Keep you focus on what God is doing, don’t try to sort out the details or carry the weight of feeling guilty and that you are irresponsible if you are not worrying.
If you feel like the Psalmist, your feet slipping (Psalm 73:2), call out to your heavenly Father to put your feet back on the Rock.
by Joyce Sibthorpe
