The devil loves for us to wallow on the “pity pot.”
Self-pity is a form of selfishness and it is usually born from fear of something we do not have control over. If we stay on the pity-pot long enough depression and/or anxiety will set in…a place the devil loves for us to live.
The past holiday season was a bit hard for me. Between the deaths of friends and relatives along with my mom battling some pretty serious health issues, I was slowly getting a ring on my butt from sitting on the pity pot.
On New Year’s Eve, Lori, Jordy and I enjoyed dinner at Cracker Barrel and then stopped at a local AutoZone to get a new battery in Lori’s car…my how age sure does equate into a slow and safe New Year’s Eve. 🙂
The young man who served us at AutoZone offered to remove and replace the old battery. I could tell he was a bit perplexed when the notes on the computer indicated the battery was located under the floor board in front of the back seat on the passenger side of the car.
After he found the battery I could see him struggling on several attempts to pull it out of the compartment. I asked him if he’d like me to try and pull the battery and he said, “Yes, I just had shoulder surgery and I don’t have much strength in either of my arms.” So I pulled the battery out and put the new one in and followed him into the store to pay him.
While paying I asked him what he did to his shoulder and he told me he had lymphoma and that the surgeon had removed several cancerous lymph nodes. He went on to tell me that he had missed a year of work because of his cancer and he was so grateful to be able to work, even if it was on New Year’s Eve.
God has a way of slapping us across the face with a dose of reality. Needless to say, this experience got me off my pity pot pretty quickly.
Nothing great in life happens from feeling sorry for ourselves.
1 Thessalonians 5:18, “Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”
Reflection:
What beliefs, thoughts and actions cause you to struggle with self-pity?
Additional Scripture to read and reflect on: John 5:1-9, Philippians 4:6, Proverbs 23:29-30
P.E.A.C.E.
Jay@EagleLaunch.com
P.S. If you know of someone who may benefit from walking with us on this Lenten journey, please forward to them.
