A lot of what David writes resonates with me. Our study at my life group last Friday inspired me to read Psalm 119. If I am honest with you this has not been my best week. The cumulative weight of what it is I do, along with the “stuff” that comes with what I do, has kicked my butt. When I experience these kind of weeks I turn to the Psalms. David seemed to have had frequent “down” moments along the way.
Listen to David’s words from verses 25-32 in Psalm 119…I’m feeling terrible—I couldn’t feel worse! Get me on my feet again. You promised, remember? When I told my story, you responded; train me well in your deep wisdom. Help me understand these things inside and out so I can ponder your miracle-wonders. My sad life’s dilapidated, a falling down barn; build me up again by your Word. Barricade the road that goes Nowhere; grace me with your clear revelation. I choose the true road to Somewhere…I’ll run the course you lay out for me…just show me how. (message)
I believe the road to Nowhere has several exits that people mistakenly take.
1. Self-Pity. Talk about quick sand… Feeling sorry for yourself will suck the life right out of you. I might have a PHD in self-pity. There is nothing productive about it. Just say no! Trust me when I say, someone has it worse than you do!
2. Destructive Behavior. There are so many things people turn to for their comfort. Work, food, TV, sex, drugs, alcohol…the list goes on and on. People don’t like what they are feeling so they look for something to numb the pain. Sometimes they look to change their circumstances, thinking some kind of change will bring relief. A new job…a new relationship…a new car – it’s the road to Nowhere. David was the consummate writer. This guy invented the art of journaling…if he were alive today we would read his blog for sure. David understood the inherent benefit of writing out your thoughts to God. He brought his dark thoughts and fears out into the light – knowing that they would lose some of their power over him. When you are afraid or in pain, get your journal out. A journal can be something fancy you buy at the bookstore or it can be something as simple as a legal pad. I’ve written on scraps of paper before. Most of my journaling I keep. Some, I throw away because it’s just too dark and I would never want to risk anyone reading it. It’s just between me and God. Raw and gut-wrenching stuff. If you don’t journal – start. Start today. Write your prayers out to God and see the change it brings.
3. Secrecy. Lots of folks just put on their happy face and try their best to ignore the pain. Sure they have their self-pity and a destructive habit to keep them company, but they keep it all inside. Emotionally they roll up into a ball and live life in the spiritual fetal position. God never intended for us to go through our pain alone. Trust me when I say that leading is about as lonely as it gets. Jesus battled loneliness, Paul and David struggled with it. The enemy wants to isolate us and insulate us so he can defeat us. The New Testament teaches us to bear each other’s burdens…to confess our stuff to each other. Secrecy doesn’t work. Sure you will feel like a wuss when you dump your stuff onto someone else. We want people to believe we have our act together…that we can hold up.
So, I had a bad week this week, but you know what, God had a good week. He listened to my stuff and didn’t flinch (I still expect him to.) He put some Godly friends around me to listen. He gave some of my other friends the discernment to give me some space. He let the Phillies sweep the Mets! Bottom line, he kept me off the road to Nowhere and helped me choose the true road to Somewhere.
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7 comments:
I know how it is to ignore your pain. I am guilty of this. In the past I have put my problems in my mind. I never hoped to burden anyone with my pain. Instead, I took up an eating disorder, took fitness to the extreem and picked at myself. I tried to help everyone else, but myself. It wasn't until I start to really listen to the services at Fellowship that I realized what I was doing to myself. God loves me nomatter what! I don't have to be "perfect" and it's okay to feel sad sometimes. Now I'm taking baby steps to getting back on track. Each day is a stepping stone. I find myself talking about God more and living how he wants me to. Now things just even feel different. I see things in a "new" light. Fellowship has changed the way I live. God really works magic at our church!!!
You are such a normal guy. I love that 'bout ya! You are real and I somehow got a bit of encouragement out of you dealing with a bad week. Not that you had one but how you are so willing to share that with me and how you use David's words to get you through. I pray you have a terrific Saturday and you find a renewed energy for life. C ya soon
Those are huge breakthroughs Anita...God is giving you great insight into your life and leading you to new paths..."baby steps" and taking it one day at a time, show that you are maturing on your journey. I am proud of what you are allowing God to do in your life.
Thanks Dan! I really appreciate your feedback. We are in this together!
I owe my "baby steps" to finding my true faith at Fellowship. I didn't really find my faith in God until attending Fellowship. It has been a long journey for me (even though I am just 22). It all stems from loosing my father to cancer. But God has taught me to accept that my father left to go home to be with him. Before I found God I didn't understand that. Everyday was a bad day. I was empty and searching for any answer. Then Fellowship really saved me from my old self. It seems as if the devil knows when he can get to you. I know that first hand from all my bad decisions. But God has taught me that there are brighter days once he sees us through the fog. I put my complete faith in him. Like your lesson 2 weeks ago, you cannot change what God has planned for us... no matter how long our daily prep list gets.
I admire your honesty. We all go through times of uncertainty. Like you I too have gone to The Psalms of David. Many years ago I read a book called The Extra Dimensionality of God by Hugh Ross. The one thing that struck me is just how awesome our God truly is. With the universe and all its complexities in the moment of creation, is mind boggling.
Psalms 147:4 reads as followed; He counts the number of the stars; He gives names to all of them. NASB.
When I dwell on just this one simple verse it blows my mind how infinite our God is. We cannot comprehend how much God loves us. It’s immeasurable. To think that Jesus left absolute paradise to become man is mind blowing enough. For Him to die on the cross to pay for our sins so we can spend eternity with Him forever is something words cannot describe. This is the message I want the world to hear. Through Gods ministers such as you, I pray all will enter His Kingdom. I will pray for Fellowship and its impact on our community and the world. I will pray for you.
Peace,
Chuck
Time and time again I am amazed at how God uses your willingness to be transparent to encourage me and lift me out of the pit. Too often I get stuck in that pit of addiction, and self pity to see the true blessings that he has given to me and my family. I just want to thank you for allowing God to use you in this way. It truly is a blessing to me. As the song says "every blessing you pour out I'll turn back to praise. When the darkness closes in still I will say..." His name (and there are so many) is blessed! Ok so the road is marked with suffering and there is pain in the offering BUT he suffered, felt the pain of the cross-can my pain be worse than that? Some days I would like to convince my self that it is but I don't think so
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