Get Out of God's Way: Support Without Enabling - Living Free - April 23
Get Out of God's Way: Support Without Enabling
Living Free Every Day®
A ministry of LivingFree.org
Scripture
"Dear brothers and sisters, if another believer is overcome by some sin, you who are godly should gently and humbly help that person back onto the right path. And be careful not to fall into the same temptation yourself." Galatians 6:1 NLT
Thoughts for the Day
Enabling can become a habit. Your loved one needs you to support their denial and deceit. They become expert at making you feel guilty if you try to stop your enabling behavior. They may say, "If you love me, you'll . . ."
So what is your responsibility to your troubled loved one? You should be supportive—without enabling.
Consider This . . .
Think about the differences between enabling and supporting.
Enabler: Tries to fix
Supporter: Shows empathy
Enabler: Attempts to protect
Supporter: Encourages
Enabler: Repeatedly rescues
Supporter: Permits the person to be responsible for their own actions
Enabler: Attempts to control
Supporter: Lovingly confronts with truth
Enabler: Manipulates
Supporter: Levels, speaks honestly
Enabler: Expects the other person to live up to "my" expectations
Supporter: Expects the other person to be responsible
Where do you see yourself?
Lord, I realize I often enable more than I support my loved one. Teach me to gently and humbly help them get back on the right path. In Jesus' name . . .
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